LittleLau Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Well after 6 weeks of fantastic laying, not one but two of my girls have decided to go broody. I really don't mind the lack of eggs, but they are barely eating or drinking as they wont leave the eglu, and chicken number 3 is looking pretty lonely. I have tried moving them from the nest, but they puff themselves up, peck me, then go straight back in. If I shut them out, they make lots of noise, and the non broody is upset that she can't get in to lay. I have a couple of questions if someone would advise. Question 1 is. Is it ok to just leave them to it until they decide it's enough? And Question 2 is, if it's a no, and I try a broody crate, can I put them both in together? Should I put them in 2 separate crates?, or should I try one, then when she is ready to go back immediately swap her for the other broody? Many thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Leaving a broody to it leaves them open to attack from red mite and not eating or drinking much so in the end not doing them much good I'm afraid. Having 2 dog crates would be fab but would cost quite a bit so if you can I would split the crate you have in 2 with some kind of divider, that way they cannot snuggle up to each other and keep themselves warmer still. It only takes 3 days and 3 nights - most of the time - to snap them out of it. I'm not sure how much room a broody needs though and if dividing the crate is big enough, but I'm sure someone else will advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Penny my wyandotte bantam has just come out of three days in the broody crate. She went on the nest box today and sat on Amy's egg for five minutes until I chucked her off, but apart from that she's been out and about all day and has gone to bed with the others as normal. Tentatively declaring a success Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Yes it's best to break a broody unless of course you want to hatch As you have observed they eat less and disrupt any laying hens, also losing condition and it could left unchecked go on for months not to mention no yummy eggs I have a wire cat basket for my anti-broody coop. I place it in my cube run, raised up on 2 bricks, 2 clip on cups for food and water. 3 days and nights straight usually does the job But if your hen heads straight for the nest box, maybe longer will be needed. Also keeping them in sight of the others avoids any trouble with the pecking order. Once my anti-broody cage goes in the run it stays there all summer The pekins take turns, but only one at a time, as they would snuggle up and keep warm the anti-broody is too cool then down and snap them out of broody mode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I always leave my broodies to get on with it. They've never come to any harm. I've been keeping chickens for 5 years now. I can understand that you might want to stop them and would follow luvachickens instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I do the same as Chickabee. I monitor them and get them up for food, water and exercise but otherwise I leave them alone. They are six years old and that regime seems to have suited them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I also have two broodies atm I have a buff Orpington in a large crate and my bantam in a large cat crate. I feel for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Strange coincidence, but I lifted my broody yesterday to look for eggs. Her crop was full. She's obviously looking after herself. She's had no intervention, other than egg pinching, from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I have 2 broodys right now as well . My little lavender pekin has been broody for about 2 weeks and is vicious when shoved out of the nest box! My ginormous cochin Hazel Nut has taken to the nest box too - she's not so cross and allows herself to be lifted out and then sits on the ground in a big poofy lump! Last year my amber star Daisy went broody and it lasted 14 weeks I did consider using a broody cage but then decided to let her get on with it. It didn't seem to do her any harm as I turfed her out each day to make sure she ate and drank. I'll let these 2 get on with it as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 This post is jinxed. when I read it first, I had one broody hen, Now I have 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I don't see any benefit to leaving them to it, as others have said it leaves them open to red mite and other parasites which can cause anaemia plus not eating and drinking regularly in the summer heat can't be a good thing. As demonstrated on this post they can stay broody for 3 or 4 months in which time they will have lost a lot of condition, cause a lot more work for you having to kick them off several times a day and they hog the nestboxes leaving others with nowhere to lay. Pop them in a broody crate raised up to get air circulating and cool her down and they will snap out of it - persistence is key Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 This post is jinxed. when I read it first, I had one broody hen, Now I have 4 Oh Mars you poor thing. I think the most I've had is 2 but in separate coops. You planning any hatching? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 This post is jinxed. when I read it first, I had one broody hen, Now I have 4 Oh Mars you poor thing. I think the most I've had is 2 but in separate coops. You planning any hatching? I will put some eggs under them and leave them in a fenced area. I have one rooster for 19 hens, so I don't know if they will hatch, but I will let them Chickabee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 The fifth will go there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I will go and check the girls now. if I take long time to come back it means I am building a broody cage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I don't see any benefit to leaving them to it, as others have said it leaves them open to red mite and other parasites which can cause anaemia plus not eating and drinking regularly in the summer heat can't be a good thing.As demonstrated on this post they can stay broody for 3 or 4 months in which time they will have lost a lot of condition, cause a lot more work for you having to kick them off several times a day and they hog the nestboxes leaving others with nowhere to lay. Pop them in a broody crate raised up to get air circulating and cool her down and they will snap out of it - persistence is key I do exactly as your picture Lewis after 6 days I let them out and my bantam went straight back to the nesting box. My buff Orpington was fine. Should I put the bantam back in the broody cage and for how long? Last year she snapped out in a matter off days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I found the picture online, thought it was a great example. I would leave her in the broody crate until she snaps out of it, as you say it usually only takes a few days. Make sure there's enough air circulating underneath to cool her down and snap her out of it - maybe she will do better now the Orp isn't broody too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Can I ask what might be a really daft question - but do you drape something over the crate at night to keep out the elements? What happens if its a rainy/windy day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Is the crate it a covered run? If so just leave it uncovered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Ours is inside a covered run but we still cover it with a blanket - mostly because mine get quite distressed seeing the others going to bed and to maybe keep them a bit quieter in the morning, mind you that didn't work this morning as my current broody was making a din at 6.15am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Oh luvachicken first no eggs, now broodies. You really need to let the air circulate to cool them down. The other option, which I must say I don't like the sound of, is to dip their bottoms in cold water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Even with the blanket on they still snap out of it - er, well, they have so far, plus it is meant to minus tonight so I'm sure that will knock it on the head. We do usually use an old cotton duvet cover but hubby sorted it because of my arm/shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
