Rotherhamgirl Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 I have a Cream Legbar/Leghorn cross who has now been very broody for 26 days and is showing no signs of coming off the nest herself. She's not sitting on any eggs. Rather weirdly, she's also laying... Since the 21 days have been and gone I've taken her off the nest several times a day and also locked her out of the nest in the mid afternoon once the others have laid. I've not let her sleep in the nest either, but all to no avail. Does anyone have any ideas? She was 'normally' broody last year and stopped after 21 days. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Broodies will often sit for weeks, losing condition and won't snap out of it. I'd recommend setting up a broody crate with a wire base, put food and water in there and keep her in it for three days and nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotherhamgirl Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 Thank you. I was hoping to avoid that as it seems a bit cruel, but perhaps it’s the only option now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 It's fine, they squark for a couple of minutes, then realise that they have all that food to themselves If they are left to brood, then they won't eat and will be a hot lice magnet, so it's best to pop them in there as soon as they start to brood. 3 days 24/7 works wonders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotherhamgirl Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 Thank you! Do they just poop through the cage or do you take them out once or twice/day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 They poop through the bars I have had 3 new broodies this year and each one has gone into the cage - sometimes they need an extra day and night just to make sure. It is hard to watch them in there but as long as they are safe and have food and water, they soon get used to it. Lets face it , they have to. The time soon passes to when you can let them out again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotherhamgirl Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Lewis that’s the exact crate I have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 I found the photo on google but we have the same crate too - an eBay bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 They poo through the bars - raise it up on bricks to encourage airflow to cool them down and pop a thin layer of Aubiose underneath the crate. I put the plastic tray from the crate on top and secure it with a brick so that the others don't poo on them. I can't link here to the video I did on YouTube, but if you search it will come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 I've never raised mine off the ground although I suppose it makes sense. I was more worried about the Pekins's feet being on the wire and that it could contribute to Bumblefoot - mine haven't had this for ages now thankfully - so my crates are just on the woodchip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 My pekins have always been fine in the crate, so I wouldn't worry. it's best to raise it up to give some air clearance. My grandad used to hang them from a low branch, in the shade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 So hubby let the latest broody out today while I was at work, only for me to get home and find her back in the nest box I did turf her out and she did stay in the run for the rest of the day. Need to keep a really close eye on all of them tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotherhamgirl Posted June 15, 2018 Author Share Posted June 15, 2018 My husband built a broody cage for her and she was very unhappy, battling to get out. I steeled myself and left her in there, but later had to let her out as she’d managed to knock over her food and make a huge mess. She then behaved quite normally for the rest of the afternoon with the rest of the flock... We’ve put her back in the broody cage overnight, though, as I’m not convinced we’ve cracked it yet. Here she is, having overturned her food. A few seconds before she’d been perched on the water container, looking most inelegant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Don't worry about the mess, just clean it up and put her back in. I'm afraid that unless she is in there for 3 days, 24/7, you stand little chance of snapping her out of it. Especially if we get another hot spell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Luvachicken I was worried about my bantams falling through the mesh and hurting their feet / legs too, so i use a couple of cake cooling racks in the bottom. They don’t go back to the kitchen afterwards in case you were wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 On 16/06/2018 at 2:37 PM, mullethunter said: Luvachicken I was worried about my bantams falling through the mesh and hurting their feet / legs too, so i use a couple of cake cooling racks in the bottom. They don’t go back to the kitchen afterwards in case you were wondering. That's a fab idea. I've had to put Lily back in and had to raise the cage off the ground. I don't like the thought of her feet on the bars and she manages to walk really well one way but not the other. Cake racks are a very good idea - I wish I'd looked earlier at the posts now - but will get some tomorrow. Right now, I've had to make broody towers and goodness knows what's going to happen if I get a third broody tomorrow. How on earth they are meant to cool down with high daytime temperatures I really don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Pop a freezer block under the broody cage, wrap it in a plastic bag first though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 1 hour ago, The Dogmother said: Pop a freezer block under the broody cage, wrap it in a plastic bag first though My friend uses thin ice packs and wraps them in towels or pillow cases and then puts them under their bedding. I do something similar on very hot nights: fill a hot water bottle with cool water, refrigerate it, and then leave it under your pillow! Bliss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 2 hours ago, The Dogmother said: Pop a freezer block under the broody cage, wrap it in a plastic bag first though 1 hour ago, AndyRoo said: My friend uses thin ice packs and wraps them in towels or pillow cases and then puts them under their bedding. I do something similar on very hot nights: fill a hot water bottle with cool water, refrigerate it, and then leave it under your pillow! Bliss. So glad I came on here today I was just going to ask if it is OK to use the freezer blocks and here is the answer. Thanks both xx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 5 hours ago, Luvachicken said: So glad I came on here today I was just going to ask if it is OK to use the freezer blocks and here is the answer. Thanks both xx I would just say: make sure the hen isn't going to get damp or be directly on it and get too cold; you're only trying to cool her, not turn her into a chicksickle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 I wrapped up the biggest freezer block I could find and sat in the chicken run with it on my lap - only to find they all ran away and didn't want anything to do with it Kept me cool for a while anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 One tip in this hot weather is to make sure their water is cool enough; chickens don't much like warm drinking water. I pop a freezer block under each drinker in the morning, and it's enough to keep it cool all day. It will help them to lower their body temp as it passes through the digestive system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 2 hours ago, The Dogmother said: One tip in this hot weather is to make sure their water is cool enough; chickens don't much like warm drinking water. I pop a freezer block under each drinker in the morning, and it's enough to keep it cool all day. It will help them to lower their body temp as it passes through the digestive system. I take a bottle of frozen water to work and it gradually melts. Could you do the same thing for the chickens or is that water just a bit too cold ? I was also wondering if they could have a cold, raw carrot to peck at - are they allowed raw carrot ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Raw carrots are great yeah - they can take a while to get the hang of it but I know people on here who buy horse carrots and their chickens love them now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
