The Poultry Keeper

Ken&Cath · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: West Lancashire

Hiya,
We have 9 female chicks in our back garden - 8 of which are happily laying eggs in our two nesting boxes. However, one of those boxes has been taken up by buff Pekin Pat who has been brooding for the past couple of months with no signs of stopping. We've thought about shutting the door of their house to stop her from going in, but that confuses the other 8 when they want to do their eggs! How can we stop her, or should we just let her be?

Hope you can help!! Shocked

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject:

Its up to you really, I have one thats been broody for a month or two now, i kick her out everyday for food & water...she'll stop being broody eventually, others prefer to "break" the broodiness, buy keeping them somewhere uncomfortable & out side...somewhere like an ark !

**scorpio** · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Dunmow, Essex

You can break broodiness by keeping the hen away from her nest (so she can't see it) in a 'broody coop'. That's just a wire cage or similar that keeps her with some air under her bum. She'll make a fuss for a few days but eventually simmer down - keep her fed and watered though. I kept my light Sussex in there for 4 days which was enough. The hen may moult afterwards - feathers everywhere.

Lisa · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

I've just done that with one of mine - details in this thread:

another reason to break a broody...

I decided to as she gets picked on by one of others when she hoggs the nest box, so IMHO a few days complaining in the dog crate is worth it to avoid any feather pecking...