Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Mollie333]

Hi

 

My Pekin bantam Effy finally got to hatch some weeks after sitting for months on the nest, despite trying to break her.

 

She made a excellent mother, but the chicks are now older, hatched July 7th, and now she doesn't care about them, and they don't snuggle into her anymore.

 

So she has returned to the nest, stealing any ones eggs she can get too. I feel bad for her, she wants more motherhood, but i can't give it too her, cause i understand its too cold to hatch now.

 

I can't lock the houses because of the rain we are having, the girls go in the houses when it rains, and at the moment its every 2 seconds, i keep chucking her out, but she returns, I've not got a broody cage and she might get frostbite under her if i put ice under because its cold and she is bald underneath from brooding her chicks.

 

Please tell me what to do.

[chicken bark]

To be honest Mollie I think it would be worth investing in a cage considering the number of hens you have.

 

I agree with you - it is too cold for dunking or ice.

[knackered]

you could post on freecycle to see if anyone has a spare dog crate or look on preloved. What else can you make broody cages out of? there are always loads of free rabbit hutches etc

[Deb Dav]

What about a sturdy cardboard box?

 

There is an article called Bargain Boxing in this months Practical Poultry - what you can make with a cardboard box - from transporting them, brooder box or nest boxes etc and all for free

[Mollie333]

Thanks

She took herself into the Ark again tonight, the chicks followed, there getting to big for her, but she sat on one.

 

Edit: Could i make a chicken wire run inside the walk in run, so she has no acses to the house or nesting boxes, but can see the others? also how long do i put her in it for?

[chicken bark]

She really needs to get her nether regions off the floor. Can you put a mesh floor up on bricks and then put chicken wire around it?

 

The general advice is 3 days.

[Mollie333]

Thanks.