squidsin Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 My top hen Goujon hasn't emerged from the Eglu for the last three hours and further inspection has revealed that she's gone broody - she's only been laying for three weeks, dammit! What do I do now? Do I take the egg or eggs away? I don't have a separate run/coop I can put her in, but I could make a nest in the cat box and stick her on that in the run. Will she need to sit on eggs? Will she go mad or stop brooding if they're removed? I feel a bit worried as I've heard of broody hens starving themselves to death - and she's usually incredibly greedy but even the rattle of the meal worm packet hasn't stirred her from the nest box - so any advice gratefully received. To add to my woes, I noticed this afternoon that one of my other two chooks, Nugget, has a gammy eye - it doesn't look infected as in there's no pus, but it's swollen round the edges and watery. I've cleaned it with some salt water and will take her to the vet if it doesn't get better in the next couple of days - but again, any advice? She is feeding as normal and has laid today. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 With broody chooks, the best thing to do is to dunk her bottom in some cold water and lock her out of the nest box - that is, if you don't want her broody. She will be distressed at first but should quickly get over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 I don't want her broody! But if I do it now, then where will she sleep tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Let her back in at night, and if she tries to sleep in the enst box turf her out. You could put something in it so she can't get to it but then the others can't lay in it so I would just turf her out if she tries to sleep in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I couldn't bare put my little girls in cold water so i just went out every 2-3 hours to turf them out. Or when i came back from school the girls were shut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 I just booted her out of the nest box, and she's not even sitting on anything! I shut her out for a bit so I know she's had some food and water, but she's gone back in now. I'll boot her out tomorrow and shut the door, and stick a box in with some straw in for the other two to lay in if necessary. She won't stop the other two sleeping in the Eglu with her will she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I doubt it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I have my broody in a dog crate at the moment check out clarets description of what to do on frequently asked questions - chickens - broody cage. I am really hoping it works because moving her off the nest wasn't working and I don't want to stick her in a bucket of cold water good luck Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I just booted her out of the nest box, and she's not even sitting on anything! I shut her out for a bit so I know she's had some food and water, but she's gone back in now. I'll boot her out tomorrow and shut the door, and stick a box in with some straw in for the other two to lay in if necessary. She won't stop the other two sleeping in the Eglu with her will she? If she is a nice chook she wont. My 2 dont, there will be the occasional get out my way I want to be here but other than that fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I don't want to stick her in a bucket of cold water Clare It doesn't hurt them - honest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 They're all in now! Thanks for the replies people. I think I'll try the softly-softly approach of turfing her out of the nesting box and hoping she snaps out of it, otherwise I suppose I'll have to improvise a broody cage out of the cat carrier! And it's a trip to the vet tomorrow for Nugget and her gammy eye - fingers crossed the vet doesn't charge a fortune! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajayb Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Hi, Hope the eye problem is resolved. Re the broodiness, I've posted elsewhere on the forum last week to confirm that I tried the 'softly, softly' approach last year and found it just led to all sorts of other problems, so this year created a makeshift broody cage (has to be big enough to get air flow and keep them cool - dog crate from eBay or something you cobble together yourself are best) and popped the offending chook in first thing in the morning, only letting them out for some exercise and free-ranging in the late afternoon when the others had produced their eggs and with the eglu door firmly shut. After 3 days of this treatment they snap out of it and within another week at the most, they're laying again. (NB Just remember to open the eglu door at bedtime!) I've had to do this with 3 of my hens over the last month or so and it's worked like clockwork each time. This treatment isn't at all distressing for the hen concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
