emmalou Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I have isolated our broody hen in a cage which is surrounded with straw bales and tarpaulin and off of the ground. Are frosts a problem for her at night? The other thing is, of she is separated from the nest boxes but sleeps on the roosting floor is this as good as sticking her in a broody cage? I know people do it when they need to isolate a broody hen from nest boxes but I can do that without her going into a cage, or is it purely to cool down her undercarriage? She slept on the roosting floor last night but with the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Emma The key is for her undercarriage to get cold....she'll be fine in the cage with a tarp over & a wind break or even in a shed with no tarp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 So no letting her sleep with the others at night then and putting her back in the cage during the daytime then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 There's no short cut I fear, I've tried to do it softly in the past & all I achieved was having a broody for a lot longer. The best way is raised cage in the run or insight of the others...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 She seems to "buck, buck, buck" all the time and has done so for ages. Do some breeds make more noises than others? I think it is an inclination of broodiness but she seems to do it all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 One of mine used to be dead quiet until she went in the broody cage. Once she was in it, she would pace up and down all the time whilst making a bok bok noise all the time too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 Mines the oppposite, she buck buck bucks all the time then when she saw me constructing her cage she came out to sit and watch me build it...the cheek of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 One other question sorry...Babs cage is a dog cage with quite big holes at the bottom of around 2 inches. When she is sitting down she is fine but walking around she is balancing on the rigid wire supports. There is a metal tray in the bottom but this kind of defeats the object of keeping her cool and uncomfortable? If I out anything else in there it will be too comfy for her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 We put 12mm weld mesh in the bottom of ours, held in place with tie wraps, otherwise there is a serious risk of a broken leg. If you haven't got any you will need to leave the metal tray in Emmalou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Agree with Beantree's suggestion above. It is imperative that you leave the bird in there 24/7 for 3 days and nights, she shouldn't need any windbreaks or shelters; they are remarkably hardy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 Thankyou she is fine now. I have left her in there all day but she doesn't seem to be eating which I presume is normal? Not even fussed about her mealworms or grapes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
