Unsecure chicken perches

[Lorax]

Our speckeldy, who has given us an egg a day since we got her, has gone broody. Yesterday my partner got her off her egg (actually two eggs, she had taken over the Golden Ranger's as well), wearing great thick gloves as she would not move and got really aggressive toward him. (A quick Q here - we remove eggs every day but the eggs had got quite hot under her, are they safe to eat?)

 

Today she is flat in the nesting box again (we have a Cube). I think it seems to be the season for Speckdledys to go broody judging by the posts on here.

 

Other than keep taking her off, what can we do? We don't have anywhere else to keep her (I've seen some of you recommend solitary).

 

Our other three chooks free range all day. Should we keep her in the netting we have? However that doesn't address the 'going to bed' problem and her taking over the nesting box..any advice welcome, thank you!

[quickcluck]

It looks so funny when they are as flat as a pancake dont you think???

 

Solitary is best. The easiest way to do this is with a broody cage - for this I use a medium size dog cage. Turn it upside down and put it on brick so that the air can circulate around her and bring her temperature down. usually they are in there for 3 days and 3 nights, this should do the trick. Or if you are my Maisie she takes a week!!!

 

Our Dog crate is the best purchase we've made as it's been in constant use all year round!!!

 

PS the eggs are fine to eat!

[woffle]

My neighbour swears by a swift dunk of the chicken's bum in a bucket of water.

 

We just let ours get on with it - go down twice a day to remove any eggs and take them off the nest and then closing the door of the cube for 15-30 minutes so they have a chance to get something to eat and drink. Most of ours are ok to remove but our Welsummer got quite aggressive and we had to use a blanket to cover her up with before taking her off...

[quickcluck]

I have dunked in the past, but it's tooooooooooooooo cold to do it now...

[Egluntyne]

Advice re broody hens **here**.

 

I've dunked them before now and it makes not one hap'orth of difference. I'd go straight for the broody cage as described in the linked article.