JCress19 Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Hi everyone, We returned from hols this year to find one of our hybrid hens (a speckledy called Florry) had been broody for the past day or so. We presumed this to have been caused by the super hot weather we were having at the time. This was on around the 16th Aug, over a month ago, and she is still broody! This is my first experience with a broody hen so I'm not quite sure what's normal. I read online that hens are usually broody for 3-4 weeks, so I'm a bit concerned now she's been broody for nearly 6 weeks. She hasn't had any breaks or gaps. Our other hens are managing to lay, and I've been closing off the nesting box once they have so Florry can't get back in, and I'm making sure Florry gets enough food and water because I've heard this can be a problem. Is there anything else I should be doing? And is it normal/okay for her to have been broody for so long? Thanks! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I would get a dog crate and put her in it for 3 days and nights and this should hopefully crack it, although it may need longer as she has been feeling broody for such a while. Make sure she has plenty of food and water and some shade. It sounds like you have done a good job keeping her fed and watered but I think you need another strategy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCress19 Posted August 25, 2016 Author Share Posted August 25, 2016 Hmm okay.. we don't have a dog crate, and our pet carrier that we use to transport the hens isn't terribly big - would probably be unfair to keep her in there... Is there anything else I could try, or is that my only option? Thanks so much for your help! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 You need something that will let air circulate around her nether regions and is uncomfortable for her to try and nest. Can you make up something secure with chicken wire/ weld mesh. Even a pet cage like a large hamster cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sil-El Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 One of our ladies was broody for ages earlier this year (also a speckledy hen - Kelly!) - we kept taking her out every so often to make sure she was eating and drinking but before long she'd head back in. It must have been a good six weeks at least before she stopped. We did put those frozen block things you put in cool bags under her in the nest box and that may have helped her kick the habit because it wasn't long afterwards that she stopped brooding. Perhaps give that a try, and in this hot weather we've been having it might help keep her cool as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCress19 Posted August 25, 2016 Author Share Posted August 25, 2016 Thankyou all for your help - you guys are great! I think I'll try the ice blocks first, and see whether that makes a difference, before I see what kind of container I can construct!! Thanks a lot! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I know Hampshire is a big county, whereabouts are you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie Chick Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 If it helps at all, my Araucana had a 10 week broody spell earlier this year, beating her previous best of 8 weeks! She lays eggs for two or three weeks in between then goes back to broodiness again. After the 10 week broody spell I bought a small dog cage and she now gets popped into that at the first hint of broodiness! It takes about three to five days to break her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCress19 Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 I know Hampshire is a big county, whereabouts are you ? I live in North East Hampshire - nr Basingstoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCress19 Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Thank you all for your suggestions! Just a quick update: I tried the ice first and that worked a treat! (although it did take a few days!) Florry now seems to be her normal self again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchock Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 HI there, great that you have sorted it! I think we may have our first broody as Dave has been in the nesting box all day today. Like you we do not have an alternative place for her so I am going to try the ice, can I ask (and this is probably a daft question!) did you just put the ice packs in the nesting box or did you cover them in straw? I don't have any packs so i am going to tip some frozen veg in. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCress19 Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Hiya! I didn't have any ice packs either, so I improvised and made some large ice cubes (in silicone muffin moulds! ) and put them in those zippy food freezer bags. I waited until our other hens had laid, and then removed the bedding and put the bag of ice in the nest box. It was a bit of a hassle, but it did seem to work. I did then remove the ice at night and pop the bedding back in. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Basingstoke is not far from me. I'm glad the ice worked for you. If you need anything chickeny that you haven't found nearby, Rokers near Guildford has loads of stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I'm afraid that i wouldn't let a hen brood for that long; she will end up anorexic, in poor condition and a magnet for mites. As others have said, employ a broody cage (instructions here) and snap her out of it before she gets to that stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
