witzend Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Is there anything that can be done to PREVENT hens becoming broody or is it just a case of they'll do it regardless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 The latter I'm afraid, although keeping the nest clear of eggs does deter them slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Some breeds are more prone to it than others. Nothing you can do, I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 my poor little sussex bantam, Houdini turns into 'broodini' every 2-3 weeks in the summer... Right now, I have an angry feathery pancake taking the entire nesting box - the other hens are hybrids. They are not impressed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctors girls Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 does the cold bucket of water trick work if so what is the correct procedure 1 is it a quick dip of the bum in the water 2 several quick dips 3 dip and hold in for 10 seconds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Ive tried the bucket of water trick and no, for my girls anyway, it doesnt work and just stressed us both out, as well as getting a good soaking myself The broody cage is the way to go i think, although at the moment i have 4 (yes, 4!!!) broodys, imagine if you will, 2 huge light sussex, 1 orp, and a frizzle, all in the one nest box! I have half a dozen nest boxes in their run, but oh no, they all have to squeeze into the same one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I have one of these: Rollaway Nestbox All I do is close the nest at around 10am (as they've usually all laid by then, re-open it once they've gone to bed) and it keeps Toph out, It also means the eggs roll away and she can't sit on them!! ! It's really made a difference as she was showing signs of going broody....but she's back to normal! I'm sure as the summer progresses, she'll get more determined but if it even shortens the "broody season", it'll help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 The bucket trick doesn't work and the hens hate it too. Broody cage is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Don't think the Rollaway box would work with the Eglu though?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Don't think the Rollaway box would work with the Eglu though?? Maybe not...Do you have an Eglu run or a WIR? I just blocked the Eglu nestbox (as she would then stop the others roosting in there as they couldn't get by) and put the Rollaway box in the run! (I have a WIR, so it's just up on a shelf) ...if you have a Omlet run, you could raise it up on a couple of bricks or similar and have it down the end of the run, under a shade to keep the weather off and give more privacy. Just try blocking the nestbox after they've all laid then...? The broody cage is by far the easiest fix if she does go broody! After weeeeks of Toph being broody, nothing else working, the broody cage stopped her in 3 days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 I've nothing at the mo (LOL) - but I'm a big gatherer of info before I start ANYTHING!! I'll be having either: Classic with WIR or Classic with overly large 'rabbit' style run which would still be walk in but only about 3' high If you block off the nest from the others, where/how do THEY lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 If you block off the nest from the others, where/how do THEY lay? Always good to be organised!! You'll soon learn what time of day they lay, then just block it off past that time....with mine, they're usually done by 10am, so I close the Rollaway box then...one of mine sometimes lays in the afternoon but she prefers to lay in the dustbath anyway, so she does her own thing! If they're desperate, they'll just lay on the roosting bars, not ideal but they'd cope for a one off. As long as the broody isn't the top/dominant hen then it'll be easier...the dominant hen will push her out the nest (Suki climbs in on top of Toph to get her to move!) If the broody is top hen, you'll definitely need a broody cage as she'll just block the nestbox and keep returning, turfing the others out! To be honest, I wouldn't worry too much...What breed are you going for? If you're going for a "prone" type, then definitely get a broody cage ready...if you're going for hybrids, you may never have to worry! Toph is a hybrid (Magpie/Silver Sussex...and I've heard others with the same who have gone broody) but my other 5 have never shown any tendancies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forestchook Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 You'll soon learn what time of day they lay I wish I could do that! Mine lay at any time they feel like, or so it seems. No set pattern what so ever! Sometimes I find them on the nest box and they seem to be there a long time but I don't know whether they are broody or just taking their time laying. Possible its a bit of each. When they are tending to be broody i.e. there a long time but no egg, they are quite half hearted at it. Often they get bored and appear in the run again later. They also always appear for breakfast. Yesterday however both girls were snuggled in the nest box for a good chunk of the day and decided to spend the night there. Now this I don't mind (i will move them if they try again tonight) but I was quite surprised to find my cockerel decided to join them. N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
