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[Donna C]

Hi all,

I knew when i got my two orps that they were likely to go broody but they seem to be broody, then o.k for a week or two and then broody again . I keep putting them in a broody cage but am getting a bit fed up now. Is there anything eles i can do? many thanks

[LuckyChickenLover-]

**LINK**

 

**LINK**

 

Broody hen? Get advice here![/url]"]

 

Breaking Broodies

 

To stop a hen from remaining broody it should be discouraged at a very early stage (the first day or so).

 

Removing the hen from the nest and preventing her from going back to it for a few days. You could fill the nest with something like a brick or garden ornament or up turned flowerpot, but this can be inconvenient if other hens need to use the nest to lay, so you may need to remover her to another run without a nesting box if available.

 

Flying lessons could cool her undercarriage. Just hold her at waist height and allow her to flutter to the ground a few times.

 

A cold water dunk is recommended by some. Put the broody hen into a bucket of cold water. Making her wet through may lower her body temperature sufficiently to stop her being broody. She will also then spend time preening her feathers and may decide to forget being broody. This may need to be done several times per day for a few days.

 

Putting a “clutch" of ice cubes under a broody will help to lower her body temperature and reverse the broody hormones. It may take more than one "clutch" but it may cure her.

 

A broody cage may be needed for the more stubborn hen, a wire or slatted bottomed cage raised off the ground. The airflow up through the wire or slats keeps her underside cool so lowering her body temperature and after a few days she may give up. See the “Building a broody box” link above. The cage should be placed in an airy place which is safe from Mr fox and preferably where she can see the other chicken(s). You can buy a broody cage in pet shops or on Ebay.

 

 

Hope that helped

 

~ LCL

[gongladosh]

yep, that's pure breeds for you.

 

My Sussex bantam seems to alternate between going broody once a month and once a fortnight. Poor little thing

[sharon1]

My little wyandotte has only layed 16 eggs since beginning of April, in between times which is all the time, has been broody. I have just been booting her out of the coop and shutting the door behind her so she can't go back in and when my other lady has been laying her egg which she let's the whole world know for about an hour before hand, I just open it up temporarily for her to lay then shut the door again. Hope that helps

[Donna C]

Well i seem to be doing the right things, i just feel so sorry for them going in\out of broody cage when they should be enjoying the nice weather.Thanks everyone

[gongladosh]

another thing you could do is this - I have a WIR. As there's a decent amount of room in there, I put the broody cage in there - it keeps the broody in the flock and at least they can all see each other.