Chicken bald back

[jasperaliceuk]

One of my oldest hybrids - 4 now - has decided to go majorly broody for the first time ever. A week of turfing out into the WIR after they all laid and shutting the door hasn't changed her so today I had a brainwave.

 

I have a Go Up as a spare/new chicken introducer/hospital so I risked life and limb to get her out - she's a vicious pecker and I reckon puffs up to twice her size - it took me ten minutes to get up courage with a full fleece and leather gloves!

 

So she has gone into solitary from Cube to Go Up but I have taken out the dropping tray leaving just the roosting bars and barricaded the little nest box quarter. Hence she will get a big draft in the nether regions and hopefully, if theory is to be believed, will come out of it in a few days. She protested like billy-o for 10 minutes and has been pacing all evening but have just checked and she's in the house.

 

I do feel a bit evil - as its really only a natural process for her! Here's hoping it works.

[jimnpaula]

I haven't seen a Go up close for a while - does taking the tray out leave a big gap at the back where foxy (or other unwanted) can get his paw in? Just that I understand broodies are particularly vulnerable as they are often in a trance like state and don't always react quickly if attacked.

 

Hope it works!

[jasperaliceuk]

That was my concern too but this is the only gap that can be seen. I can only just get my fingers through and can't reach the roosting bars

 

Today she came out of the house in the morning and although I've been out I understand she has been out most of the day! That's the first time she's come off the nest off her own bat. Can't be that easy so she can stay there for a couple of days I think.

 

Sue

[jasperaliceuk]

Got to say this has worked a treat - may have just been coincidence - but from the time I isolated her in the Go Up she has snapped out of her broodiness.

[mollyripkim]

Up until recently I had eight broodies that I just could not break but then had builders in the garden which must have stressed them out a bit and they are all back to normal now.

[Alis girls]

To quote the bard (Shakespeare) "broody or not broody that is the question"? one of my girls sits on the eggs which have been laid but allows me to retrieve eggs - comes for mealworms and eats and drinks and isnt agressive. Is she broody? thanks

[jasperaliceuk]

Don't really know but from what I've read not all broodies get aggressive. Anyone else got an opinion on this?

[Valkyrie]

I've not had any broody ratbags. They might squeal and do turkey impersonations but all have been fine with no feisty ladies. Not one peck from them have I had. Normal times the buff Sussex goes for me and I've been bloodied many a time, but she's a perfect lady when broody and that's when I get to cuddle with her nicely.

[mullethunter]

One of mine is pecky and the other not at all

[Valkyrie]

Talk of the devil - she's gone broody. She is a very squealy turkey. Just started yesterday. Peace reigns over the garden and in the cube! As the pekin has started laying again I think I'll wait with regard to the sin bin - just to enjoy the tranquility! Squirt's eggs are pretty small - about bantam sized now anyway. The wheaten maran who was broody is now moulting.

[chickenlover12]

One of my oldest hybrids - 4 now - has decided to go majorly broody for the first time ever. A week of turfing out into the WIR after they all laid and shutting the door hasn't changed her so today I had a brainwave.

 

I have a Go Up as a spare/new chicken introducer/hospital so I risked life and limb to get her out - she's a vicious pecker and I reckon puffs up to twice her size - it took me ten minutes to get up courage with a full fleece and leather gloves!

 

So she has gone into solitary from Cube to Go Up but I have taken out the dropping tray leaving just the roosting bars and barricaded the little nest box quarter. Hence she will get a big draft in the nether regions and hopefully, if theory is to be believed, will come out of it in a few days. She protested like billy-o for 10 minutes and has been pacing all evening but have just checked and she's in the house.

 

I do feel a bit evil - as its really only a natural process for her! Here's hoping it works.

 

It's very rare for hybrids to go broody, especially 4 of them

 

The only 'natural' solution I know to stop her, if to soak them in cold water which reduces their body temp and sometimes 'breaks' them...

[Grandmashazzie]

Gosh that is a good idea.I have 2 broodies fighting over nest box in Go Up.Mine is in WIR I think one side comes right off. I will try that.

[jimnpaula]

Careful with really cold water as it could be too much a shock to their system - lukewarm water would be enough as it's the evaporation that cools them.