Isabel Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Hello All I haven't been on here in ages so my apologies if this question has been asked recently. One of my trio has been broody for about ten days now. She has plucked her breast bare and will not leave the nesting box. I've hoofed her out but she goes straight back in. I've locked them all out but she lies by the door all day until she can get back in at night. She won't eat anything - even corn offered to her when she's in the nesting box - but I have seen her go to the feeder sometimes when out - not for the last 24/48 hrs. What on earth can I do? I don't have a dog or cat crate so that option isn't open to me. If we were to put a few eggs under her, would I need a completely separate set up? I'm beginning to feel really sorry for her - my son felt so bad for her on Sunday when I had her locked out, that he let her back in!! Advice would be much appreciated. Many thanks Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Really you do need a spare coop or rabbit cage so any broody or poorly hens can be isolated, I have broodies all over the place at the moment they are a really pain!!!! If she is going to sit she needs to be separate, the others could hurt new chicks. You could cool her down by wetting her undercarriage to lower her temperature (this increases when they are broody). I do think she needs a broody cage/coop though what ever you choose to do, you can pick up rabbit houses cheaply and they can be fairly compact too. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thanks Chuckmum .... if I don't want her to sit, is putting her in the likes of a rabbit hutch just going to mean she continues to do what she's being doing? I've just been reading the FAQ section about dunking her in cool water. Not sure she'd like that but I really don't want another 2/3 weeks of this - she'll fade away to nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I'd persist with the shutting her out in the run tactic If the run is secure and sheltered you could leave her out in it 24/7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Do you have anything you can use as a "sin bin"? There are quite a few posts here on the subject. I do it differently to - I have a couple of small run extensions for my arks which are mesh only. I shut any unwanted broodies in there on their own from morning til night (though I return them to the house for roosting as they aren't secure). I site mine on grass and in the shade, giving them food and water and shelter from the rain if necessary, but nothing else. They start by trying to brood a patch of grass but soon get fed up with it and I've found it only takes a couple of days to break their trance. It's a bit late me saying this now, but knowing the signs of a hen that's about to sit, I tend to shut them out straight away so they can't even get "into the zone". It makes "curing" them quicker and easier. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hi Isabel, my orp was just the same. Took the advice on here and i put her in a cage in the wir for 3 days and night. Must say it seemed cruel but after 3 days she was back to her normal self. We thought about getting some eggs but you would have to face it sooner or later, you couldn't just go on having chicks. Try it it really worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Thanks everyone. New plan is to close her out all day and then leave her out of house but in secure run overnight ... on that note, do you think she's okay out if the other two are in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I found it helped her snap out of it quicker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Broody cage! Works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
