emmalou Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I need to buy or make a broody cage. Is a small dog cage sufficient and does it literally just need to be for the day time to hold food and water? Seems an expensive way of doing it? Any ideas please of easy designs in order to make one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 See your other post, Catails has put up a link for you. A broody needs to be in the cage full time, day and night for three days with food and water. The cage needs to be up on some bricks to allow air to circulate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I got a rabbit cage from eBay. It was much cheaper. I've never used it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Great. Have bought a large dog cage which is much easier than our quick build yesterday. She is on day 2 today, how do I know when she is ready? She is still clucking bit only when I am trying to access the cage and change water etc. She is eating and drinking fine. She laid an egg overnight and wasn't sitting on it which I thought she would of been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Are you sure she's broody. She would be sitting on the nest constantly. Only moving rarely to do a broody poo and eat and drink. Sometimes they still lay a couple of eggs whilst broody, but they would still sit on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Well she was showing all the signs of broodiness and sat in the nest, I know, which could be just egg laying. She was also very fluffy and moody and clucking a lot. I am unsure when she is struggling to lay and when she is broody in that case? She kept trying to get into the nest yesterday. How can I tell the difference if she is constantly in there? I have just tried letting her out and she has not dashed into the nest and the egg this morning must of been laid during the night and it was just in the cage today but she wasn't sat on it. I will see how she gets on this evening shall I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Yes. She's Young isn't she? Sometimes they have a kind of fake broody. I wouldn't crate her unless she is absolutely set on the nest. She will complain if you try to move her or retreive any eggs from under her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Well she is about 25 weeks, although cannot be 100% sure on exact age as we got them from a breeder. She is bang on with eggs every day. It's tricky. She has been fine this evening and yes she was firm on the nest, very aggressive and feathers very ruffled and there were feathers in the nest the day before. She was also clucking in a very peed off way, which she is still doing a little but she is more vocal than the other at the best of times. She has just had a run around the garden, is eating and drinking well and has just gone to be with the others. Thanks for the advice chickabee. Would still like to be able to differentiate between a stubborn egg and broodiness. So at what age does broodiness kick in? I do not expect there is a definate answer on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 25 weeks is young to be broody. If she was properly broody she would not budge. Believe me I've had lots. I don't crate mine, I leave them too it, so I know the signs well. Very stubborn sitting. She might move once or twice a day for a brief time. What breed is she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 She is a medicis (french breed). I literally had problems moving her. She is called Babs for a reason though!!! She really had all the symptoms of broodiness hence why I isolated her, If we let her get on with it she literally wouldn't of eaten or drunk anything or left ghe nest which is not good for her health right? How do you let her get on with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I do just that I let them sit in on the nest, I remove any eggs daily. I don't isolate them. They do leave the nest, as they would never poo in it. They do a broody poo in the run which is huge. Then the take the opportunity to drink and eat. I check for red mite and occasionally take them off of the nest they complain a bit, have a pick at food and water then return to sit. Their combs usually go a little paler and they loose some feathers from their chest. They put these in the nest. As soon as they've finished being broody, usually about 3 weeks, their condition returns quickly. I'm not saying you should do this. Many people don't, but don't put your girl in a crate unless she is 100% broody. Isolating her is always risky too as the others may not take well to her being returned. Usually crated girls are left in the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Thanks so much chickabee. Incidentally she had all these symptoms, feather pulling and leaving them in nest etc. Identical. I did leave her for a day in the nest but she wasn't eating so turfed her out a couple of times. She wasn't happy. I agree with how you are doing it totally. I didn't want her dehydrated etc in this heat. She is very happy today and back to normal. She did go in to lay this morning but didn't happen. The others love having her back in the run as I did isolate her for 24 hrs, but is a learning curve for me as I am sure you appreciate. I don't like doing it and next time know to only do it in extreme cases. Thanks so much. Your advice is much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 You're very welcome . I've been hen keeping for 6 years now, I'm still learning. This forum has been amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 In England your chicken is known as a Magpie or a daisybell . They are hybrids and not know for being broody. That doesn't by any means mean they won't be. I used to have one called Maggie, she was lovely. 2 of my hybrids have been broody already this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Well I never knew that? Explains why I struggled to find much info on them at the time I bought her. Ha ha, I would of said if any were going to go broody it would of been her. Well there you go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
