The Poultry Keeper

Mooncottagecats · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Cumbria

Sorry if this is an oft repeated topic. Couldn't find it on the site. One of my hens (aged 10 months) has been broody for three weeks now and she is losing weight (I have no cockerel and keep them for their company and their eggs). I take her off the nest box morning and night and make her drink and try to encourage her to eat, but she is virtually eating nothing and simply fluffs out her feathers and grumbles and complains at which point the others peck her anyway. I would love to get her out of the broodiness if there is a way. A local farmer suggested standing her in water under a cardboard box for 24 hours, but I consider that cruel and won't do it, any other thoughts? I have got another coop unused which I could isolate her in, but don't see what benefit there would be for her in that? Thanks for your help. Marilyn

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject:

To break a broody you need to give her the opposite of what she wants - ie somewhere open, light and cool. I have a "dog crate" that I put in the run when I get a broody and they go in there. With food and water of course, and something over the top so they don't get wet if it rains. As its in the run the chooks can still all see each other, but she can't get to the nest box and doesn't settle as she's out in the open and rather exposed.

Maybe you could put your hen in the other run, but shut off the nest box during the day time so she can't get to the nest (she won't be laying eggs anyway...)

Mine have never been happy about it for the first day or two, but by day three they've always stopped being broody.

Might take more or less than 3 days - depends on then hen. From what others have written, some can be very persistent.

Mooncottagecats · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Cumbria

Lisa you are a star. I will try putting her in the other coop initially. There are no nest boxes set up in there and it stands on rough gravel, but with a perch, so that should do it. Thank you and I will report back.
Marilyn

Mooncottagecats · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Cumbria

Follow up to above
Lisa you are more than a star. It worked. I have one happy girl who has joined the rest of the flock and is eating and what's more laying eggs! She was in the cooler for three nights and four days and looked v. unhappy, but by fourth day she ate a bit and looked different. Thank you so much. Marilyn

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:

Another problem solved! Glad you got a happy ending! Well done Lisa!

CP · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:01 am Post subject:

Glad it all worked out well Mooncottagecats. Very Happy

Lisa · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update Marilyn - glad to hear you got the result you wanted. Can't really take any credit for the info though - just passing on what was told to me... (wonderful thing, the internet!)