Mar1a Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 It is steel wired at the bottom now, that pic was before we got them in there and the cable ties were just to hold the wire in place against the frame. It's also double wired all around and the roof, with two different sizes of wire, as well as wire mesh sunk down into the ground all around and a skirt. Yet still I worry it's not enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 that sounds perfect Mar1a, as I said, it is your decision, but I would be happy to put my broody cage inside the main run. I have Cube Trains with multiple run extension and the broody cage goes inside the run with the plastic tray on top, and held down to stop the others perching on top and pooing on her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Broody remand has begun! Took me ages to boot her off the nest, then when I had her cornered she tried to kill me with a broody poo Do I just leave her in there for 3 days minimum and then let her out to see what she does? Presumably I have to cover her up at night? She'd have to stay covered until I get round there about 7am to uncover her though . That's the problem with not keeping your girls at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Leave her in there for 3 days, 24/7, I never bother to cover it at night, just top up with clean water and food. Let her out in the morning so that she isn't going straight in to roost and getting warmer again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 she tried to kill me with a broody poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 she tried to kill me with a broody poo It was truly, truly vile Been to check on her this morning and she's fine, other than she's s"Ooops, word censored!"ed her food out all over the floor and managed to do a great big poo in her water pot! I gave her some corn and she's polished off some cabbage that I put in there last night for her so hopefully, come Saturday morning, she'll be ok when I let her out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 She will be fine try to avoid corn when they are broody, or in warmer weather as it is heating and will increase the broody problem when she needs to be cooled down. Mealworms area good substitute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 Ooooh, I hadn't thought of that, but thank you! They all love mealworms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Just a few, and only at the end of the day, mind... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 I thought we were making progress with her- she was more alert, eating and drinking, taking an interest in what was going on around her, even a caecal poo, and then, boff, back down she sits again Other than letting her out, how will I know if she's broken? Are there any signs I should look for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Just leave her in the crate for 3days and nights, then let her out in the morning. It usually works, but the odd daft hen is resistant. Whatever you do, don't dunk her In iced water as some people do; birds tend to have weak hearts and it could kill her... Besides, you will get very wet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 She gets parole in the morning she is much more like her normal self this evening so please keep everything crossed for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 6, 2015 Author Share Posted June 6, 2015 I'm broody free Thank you for all of your help, advice and encouragement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Well done Mar1a - it is a good method just difficult to stick to your guns because you feel so mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 I know, but it's (indirectly) meaner to let them brood..... They will starve themselves and become lice and mite magnets as they get too hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 6, 2015 Author Share Posted June 6, 2015 The first thing she did was have a blimmin good bath http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l599/ria_g1/20150606_110446.jpg I tried posting the pic directly but it looked so big it was heading off into the next county! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 27, 2015 Author Share Posted June 27, 2015 Guess who looks like she's going broody again?! She was fine this morning. Perfectly happy doing what hens do. She laid her egg this morning and this afternoon there she was in the nest box again. She wasn't happy when I turfed her out. So. Here we are again. The broody cage has to come out. I'll do my best to keep her shaded, and keep up with the water and cooling treats, but we are forecast temps of 30 degrees plus next week - will she be ok in the cage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 She wlll be fine so long as it's in a shady place, and there's a good airflow through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Thank you DM, we are putting her in the cage later today while it's still cool enough to have an effect on her. With the forecast heatwave, I'm not convinced that it will work straight away this time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 You can help to cool the air around the cage by draping a damp cloth over part of it if it gets very hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 I'll keep that one up my sleeve, thank you She's in. I just scooped her out of the nest box and into the cage. She was livid Funny thing is, when I got her out of the nest box, she was sitting on her own egg. Then it dawned on me that it was probably an egg that her body started yesterday before her broody switch got flicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar1a Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 My heart skipped several thousand beats this morning when I went round to check on her - the cage was EMPTY She'd only escaped through the top and gone back in the nest box Security is currently being reviewed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
