goodinparts Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 With tonight's temperature of -1, Broody Brigid remains obdurate, so I've had to enlist the help of the naughty cage. I've moved it into the shed overnight but really hate the thought of her out there on her own when it's so very cold. I'd hoped that plummeting temperatures might cool her down a bit, specially as she'd been in the "cooler" all day, but when I tried letting her out earlier she was off into the nesting box and puffling up impressively before I could say "Broody".... I do hope she'll be OK tonight - the other girls looked really reproachful as they toddled off to bed but I have to break Brigid of this before Sunday evening as we're off for a few days over half term and I can't subject my teenage hen sitters to her current grumpy behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I have the same dilemma with my brahma bantam She's not in the broody cage as I am worried about temperatures. But she's a persistent madam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I have exactly the same problem too I really don't feel happy putting her in the crate in these temperatures but she is refusing to snap out of her broodiness! Hopefully someone can reassure us that they will be ok in the cold. I think I might try to cover the crate with a blanket or something at night but will have to make sure there is enough ventilation for her. Any advice would be really welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I hate it when they go broody in the winter, or even in the rain, just feels wrong to incarcerate them! I have used a tarp over the coop to keep rain off, but not really overnight-ed them in the winter - through luck rather than anything else. I would think that if you had enough airspace underneath - ie your coop is on bricks - you could try a blanket over the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I have a silkie who's refusing to break. I left her to it initally as I knew the cooler weather weather was coming - I assumed she'd give up on her own. She's persistant, I've got to give her that! If she breaks now, I'll promise to let her be a mummy in the spring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyHodgson Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'm having the same experience with my Gold silkie, Victoria. The kids were so thrilled that we decided to let her keep sitting on her egg which she's been sitting on for 10 days now - and I checked with a candler this morning - there's definately a baby growing in there! Our cockerel is a Barnevelder, so looking forward to seeing what the little one looks like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Me too! My speckledy went broody this week. I thought she was ill or moulting as this hasn't happened before. I keep lifting her out of the nest box, but as soon as I turn my back she is back in there. i have a cage I could use as a broody cage, but will see if she snaps out of it first. How long should I leave it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Me too! My speckledy went broody this week. I thought she was ill or moulting as this hasn't happened before. I keep lifting her out of the nest box, but as soon as I turn my back she is back in there. i have a cage I could use as a broody cage, but will see if she snaps out of it first. How long should I leave it? If she's broody I'd do it sooner rather than later. She might only need a couple of days this weather. I move mine bricks, cage and all into the shed/garage to overnight if the weather is really bad. I have promised mine some eggs in the Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Well, she coped OK last night so I brought the broody cage (aka puppy crate) out of the shed & popped it back next to the Go....She spent the morning in there but when I came out mid afternoon to give the other girls some corn and encourage them back into the run, there were THREE instead of two free ranging around the garden. I have NO idea how she escaped...but am hoping that the fact that she didn't immediately bolt for the nesting box, even though she had access to it, means that just a day and a night in the cooler did the job. Tomorrow is make or break day, as I either have to re-incarcerate her in order to fit in the 3 days before we go off for half term, or can relax knowing the broody cycle is broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 One of my warrens has just gone broody-none of the others I have ever owned have! Funny she should choose the week we have had thick frost every morning-I reckon she is pretending so she can stay in the warm nestbox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hi, chicken is now in broody cage! Anyone got the link to the broody information as I can't find it anywhere? I am wondering if I should give her food and water? It's prob a silly question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Make sure she has access to food and water in the cage. Mine tips it over so I try to stay with her for a few minutes to make sure she actually has something. If yours knocks it over just make sure you fill it up a few times each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Thanks, all sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 My speckledy is still persisting. I think she will be in the sin bin soon. I thought the change in the weather would snap her out of it but no. I was thinking of giving her some eggs to sit on in the spring if she goes broody again. I can't bear the thought of culling cockerels though. Are there any breeds with a quiet crow I've heard silkies are quite quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Brigid seems to have mended her ways after just 48 hours of sin bin - though she hasn't actually laid again yet...But I'm content to just have her behaving in a normal, slightly dotty chicken way again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Brigid seems to have mended her ways after just 48 hours of sin bin - though she hasn't actually laid again yet...But I'm content to just have her behaving in a normal, slightly dotty chicken way again. Yay! Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Well, this is the second day and Dotty is still making those broody clucking noises and squeals of delight if I stroke her and also pecking. I think it's going to be another day or two. I don't want to risk letting her out yet in case she goes straight into the nestbox and we have to start again. EDIT: 15:40p.m. Caved in and put her in the run with the others as I had a nice bowl of s"Ooops, word censored!"s to give them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
