Luvachicken Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Well, I suspected that Suzie was yet again heading into the broody camp but was not prepared for Gemma to join in too. This is Gemma's first attempt at being broody and she has been suffering from chicken PMT all day - especially towards Suzie. Suzie was only broody just over a week ago and I suspect Gema has been watching how its done The problem I have is that we only have one dog crate which I can use. It is quite large but will it be big enough to fit both the pekins in if we split into 2 somehow ? Otherwise, do any of you have any other suggestions for what I can use ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Oh, poor you, I had 3 go at the same time and only one cage. I just did one at a time 3 nights in the cage and she was fine and then put the next one in. In the meantime just oiked the other girls out a few times a day to eat. Blooming Silkies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I have crate you can borrow... Woking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Prilly, Clarabel and Annie seem to be rotating their broodiness !! I think they are too lazy to do it properly but its driving me insane as 1 minute they are broody then they aren't, having said that Prilly is more persistant yet she knows the cage so well now I think its been about 3 times this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 I have crate you can borrow... Woking... Thank you, that's a nice offer.......but actually Gemma was just playing at being broody - she showed no signs of being broody at all today It does seem to be contagious though this broodiness because today Queenie was behaving oddly, she sat in the nest box for quite a while, growled at me and raised her feathers at me. I took no notice and put her with the others shutting the cube door. She made a right racket for the rest of the afternoon, so I gave up and reopened the door, she was very pleased to go in and returned about an hour later................so I went to get the egg, but there wasn't one Not sure they or I have got the hang of this broody lark yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Ha ha having the same problem half hearted bloodied this hot andchilly weather mmight be helping us. uou know where to find me if you need one. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 problem is - if you keep them in the sin bin together, they'll just cuddle up to keep warm... You may need to split them up a little while broody, or buy another broody cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 Well, Gemma definitely isn't broody - she only managed it for one day thank goodness - she is back to her normal self. Queenie appears to be semi broody in that she sits in the nest box for a while and comes back normal, but not having laid an egg - although she does appear to be moulting I would have thought moulting now was a bit early but then my girls don't seem to be getting anything right at the moment. Silly things these chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 My Clarabel is a semi broody but also an egg stalker she waddles into the cube and waits and watches whoever is laying the egg, she squawks and makes a right old fuss whilst doing so sometime causing whoever is laying to either join in or vacate the cube !! Then if an egg is left behind she is very quick to jump on it however her egg sitting has never lasted more than a day so she is yet to go in the sin bin but im sure her time will come, the little madam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm lucky that in nearly 4 years I've never had to deal with a broody (now frantically crossing fingers and touching wood ). The joys of hybrids! I reckon though that you could divide your crate if it's big enough for two. Using canes, or some netting down the middle maybe? I know one of your girlies has now gone off the idea of being a mummy, but it might be worth doing a trial run in case the situation arises again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Oh my flip de do dah days !!! Isla has joined in with Annie on the whole nest sitting thing There must be something in the air, I am now having visions of all 7 going broody at once grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Good job I love them and the plus side is whilst they are nest sitting they don't run away and get cuddles, every cloud and all that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I'm lucky that in nearly 4 years I've never had to deal with a broody (now frantically crossing fingers and touching wood ). The joys of hybrids! Don't be so sure LB, Ivory liked to be broody, she was a Susex type hybrid Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Oh don't say that! I am sure the time will come eventually when I'll get a broody, but so far so good thankfully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 problem is - if you keep them in the sin bin together, they'll just cuddle up to keep warm...You may need to split them up a little while broody, or buy another broody cage. Agreed. My broody cage is a wire pet carrier, so I put them in one at a time if I have more than one broody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 My broody cage is a wire pet carrier, so I put them in one at a time if I have more than one broody. Is that like a normal sized pet carrier ? I could get one of them for in the future, and it would be cheaper than a dog cage (then hubby wouldn't mind so much) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 It's this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 It's this one Thank you, I know what to look for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 No problem, they come in various sizes; the one I have in the pictures isn't the biggest as I have bantams. I have two now as I got one from Freecycle recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 I won't need a big one either as mine are bantams too. I spose I should put that on my signature really - I just put pekins before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I often have more than 1 broody at a time, and do put them in the cage together. I always turn it upside down so that they are standing down the grills. Then the tray goes on the top so they don't get pooped on! I also put it up on bricks. They don't often cuddle up together and are usually 'cooked' in a few days and come out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
