Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Leicester_H]

Lily has decided to go broody. We have stopped her sitting on hers (and Smokie's) eggs the last few days and she's not been too bad but...

Yesterday, when we removed the eggs, she started to crow at the TOP of her voice. We had to keep her entertained all day to keep her quiet.

We even dunked her in cold water twice, which quietened her for a short while

We tried locking her in the eglu to deaden the noise a little, but then Smokie joined in (I think she saw it as a distress call)

We put a large brick in the laying area (large thermal mass so coolish)

This morning at 4.30 am (yes!) she started crowing - still sitting on brick (no eggs)- so we got up, put her in cat box and put in dark cupboard under the stairs. This kept her quiet. (Tonight we'll close eglu door and try to block the light out)

Put her back in run at 7am. Seemed Ok.

But when OH got back from gym at 11am, she was back in eglu, incubating the brick!

 

Is all this crowing normal (it didn't happen last time she tried to go broody) ? Will she stop eventually ? We really can't have her making all that noise for much longer (the neighbours will rightfully complain)

 

Any ideas ? Would it be better to leave her alone ? We have to quieten her down (can sacrifice eggs if necessary).

 

H

[Snowy]

Oh dear! Sorry I can't offer any advice on that one - a couple of mine like to crow but i just leave them too it as they have never been properly broody with it. It does seem to be hormonal though as they go through phases then it calms down again. I noticed mine were at it yesterday - must be the weather!

[Space Chick]

I have 2 very stroppy broodies at the moment Broody cage hasn't worked as it must still be too warm even with the airflow, so I have taken to twice daily dips in cold water Its not working so far and they are shouting their heads off.

 

I have no advice but do sympathise

[Samuel Morse]

One of mine has gone broody three times in a year; the other hasn't gone once. The most recent time I tried a broody cage and it wasn't worth the noise. I took to shutting her out of the hen house, and she'd sit as close to it as she could. She had carried a few twigs into the hen house and I don't know if it was coincidental but I totally cleaned the hen house and that seemed to be the end of her broodiness.

 

As for the noise, I have this problem a bit when they get panicked (kids playing next door, a lawnmower, a door slammin, etc). They are like a pair of klaxons. I gave them corn to shut them up but I saw the future problem I was creating for myself so am now going for a blast from a water pistol.

[C&T]

I have 2 very stroppy broodies at the moment Broody cage hasn't worked as it must still be too warm even with the airflow, so I have taken to twice daily dips in cold water Its not working so far and they are shouting their heads off.

 

I have no advice but do sympathise

 

When we do the cold water thing, we do it every couple of hours, or more if it is hotter and drying off quickly. Has worked for us, but then she is not that dedicated to the broody cause, so this helps I am sure.