jesschicken24 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 So, Luna's gone broody and we've had to put her in the pop up broody pen with some food and water (we shut her out to free range with the other hens first). Almost as soon as I put her in, she started squawking and trying to escape, which made me feel Like the most awful monster. She seems to have settled down now and is just sitting quietly in the middle but I was wondering what you thought to my broody pen? Is it okay? Could I keep her in there long enough for the other two to lay their eggs and then put her in the run and have the coop door closed. Or would I be better of leaving her in the pen? She's out side at the moment as I thought the cool air would help but it can be brought inside easily. I'm not too worried about them being attacked as there is almost always someone out with them or watching them through a window. Here are the pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 It looks a bit too comfy to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 That's what I was thinking. She needs air flowing underneath her,to cool her down. Ideally a cage on some bricks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 She does look very sweet though! The idea with a cage in the air is to stop her achieving brooding temperature underneath. Otherwise she will just sit there. Your idea regarding just keeping her apart until the others have laid is a good one Jess. Shutting the pop-hole and returning her to the outside run will be quite effective. This is what we do with one of ours, basically because the broody cage we normally put outside is buried under a load of other stuff in a nearby barn and it's a pain to get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 That's what we've done Beantree, the pen is mostly for night time and while the others are laying in a morning. It should be pretty cool in there as there is plenty of air flow coming through the bottom of the garage door where we are keeping it. We've also chucked them out for a good long free range in the day and she spends most of it running around the coop (apart from the odd dust bath and a bite to eat), trying to get back in. If it doesn't work we're planning to give her a nice cold bath at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Sounds like shes not fully broody to me. Usually they would find themselves another nice spot to sit and not move. She's young isn't she? I found that mine had a pretend broody before a proper broody the following spring. My white Silkie is 3 now, she's gone back to being sort of broody. Quite funny really. She just sits in the coop, where she can see everyone, then darts out when she hears treats coming. she stops laying though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 That won't do the trick I'm afraid. She needs to be uncomfortable and have air circulating under her petticoats to cool her down. A dog crate is ideal, if it is propped up on bricks. It will also make her feel uncertain that this will be a good and safe place to raise the chicks she thinks she is hatching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I agree, and please don't dunk her in cold water - this is likely to give her a heart attack, especially now the weather is cold. Silkies are inclined to be very broody, so you may have a full time job on your hands! We used to suspend wooden cages under the fruit trees, but a pet crate on bricks inside the regular run is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Same thing here too; Daisy is broody for the second time. The first time we removed her from the nest four times in one day and thankfully she gave up. She seems determined this time though! None of the others are laying at the moment, so I just shut the door to the eglu but she's certainly not happy about it; she's super grumpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 First chance I've been able to update this week, it's been mad! Good news, I gave Luna a cold, but not freezing, bath over the weekend (don't worry Dogmother it was a nice warm day where we were and I gave her a good towel dry). I think Luna actually enjoyed herself she had a little drink and sat quiet happily without me holding her. My chickens are a bit obsessed with water, they love sitting out in the rain instead of in sheltered areas. It seems to have worked, she's hardly been in the coop all week and has been going out to play as normal. The bad news is that Hedwig is now broody and a really mean one, I couldn't even put my hand in the coop to give he food without her trying to peck me! I didn't want to try the cold bath with Hedwig, as Dogmother pointed out it has turned suddenly very cold. So I decided to block off the nest until my proper broody cage arrived (much to Luna and Moonstones annoyance). So Hedwig is now in the broody crate while the other two are more or less back to normal in the coop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 You keep silkie and you don't want them to go broody, it is not fair to the hens or to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 It's not a question of not wanting her to go broody but she's not getting any eggs to hatch till Spring. I don't see the point of leaving her on the nest, with no eggs to hatch and not eating, drinking, playing or exercising as much, when I have other chickens wanting to use the nest box. It's not like I'm torturing her, I've just moved her from one metal cage to another. I didn't get Silkies to lay eggs, they are pets first. It's simply that I'm of the opinion that the quicker she goes back to her normal self, the better for her and my other hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 A good broody cage is fine, and not at all cruel, I think Mars is pointing out that Silkies will almost always be broody - it's their default setting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 with no eggs to hatch Sorry, didn't think of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Sorry, just read the message back and realized that it probably sounded a bit defensive. Must use more emoticons! I am ridiculously excited for Spring! Hopefully I will be going on my chicken breeders course and getting some eggs not long after. I will also be upgrading to a cube. Luna and Moonstone had a lovely long playtime in the garden yesterday. As much as they love playing in the rain, I'd rather they (and I) stayed as dry as possible, so they haven't been out much this week. It was nice to see they playing, without rushing back to the coop to see Hedwig. Does anyone else find their chickens follow their top chuck around? Did I use enough emoticons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Did I use enough emoticons? One per paragraph, that almost restrained We evicted our broody every day and she was okay pecking around with the other but as soon as the coop door was opened she was back in the nest box. We let her come out of it in her own time - she was eating and drinking so it seemed safe. Next time though we might have to try a broody cage. As far as following the head hen, no, I think our just follow each other with no obvious 'leader'. When we still had Ginger she was at the bottom of the peking order, but often the most adventurous, and we often saw her out ahead of the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 How are you getting on Jesschicken? Reluctantly, I've put Daisy in a broody cage (upside down dog crate on planks of wood) for the last two days. She's been broody for 10 days now and despite closing the eglu door, she just nests in the grass or under the ladder in the run instead She's certainly determined and is actually getting quite nasty with the other girls. I've been letting her in the house at night though because I saw a fox in the garden yesterday which totally freaked me out. Will it still break her broody spell putting her in the crate only in the day? This is my first broody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 As far as I know it has to be overnight too. Will the crate fit in your run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 The crate is in the run at the moment but I was thinking it might distress her with a fox prowling around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 You could put a blanket or towel over the cage at night. As long as you've still got air circulating underneath that should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Yes, don't be tempted to bring her in at night or she will stay broody. They need that sustained cooling period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Well all signs of broodyness seem to have disappeared and they are almost back to normal, just waiting for them to start laying again. They have spent most of the weekend in the garden, dust bathing and playing, which has been nice to see. I put my broody cage in the garage at night as I couldn't get it in the run and I figured they would be safe in there but not too warm or comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 You could put a blanket or towel over the cage at night. Why didn't I think of that? Thanks Chickabee Yes, don't be tempted to bring her in at night or she will stay broody. I thought that might be the case; I just feel terrible leaving her in there It's a bit like leaving your kids at nursery for the first time Good news Jesschicken! Glad they're back to their usual selves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Try a wire pet carrier f you're having trouble fitting a dog crate in your run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've got an indoor rabbit cage. I got it on ebay really cheap. It's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
