When might I expect eggs again? She was a tough nut to crack, but finally she is back with her buddies in the coop, ranging as she should and generally staying outta the nest. It's been 2 nights that she successfully joined the gang. I'm sure there is a wide variance of normal...but??
HOW DID YOU BREAK HER??????????????? I only know two tricks on how to break broodiness! i must know your trick!
I also need to know. My Nancy and "The Turken" both are finally back with the flock, acting normal and such. It has been about a week though and no eggs from them. They were my two best layers before this going broody at the same time nonsense. I didn't "break" mine, I tried stuff but finally just gave up and waited it out.
The sure-fire method of breaking a broody is the wire-mesh bottom cage with no bedding. To really expedite the process, add a fan to blow on her under parts at night. Usually it takes about three days and a couple nights and the broody will lose interest in nest-sitting. I just got through breaking a broody, and that's how long it took. The longest it's ever taken with the wire cage method with a very stubborn broody was four days. I've never had any luck whatsoever with ice packs and cold water dunking. Trying to keep a broody off a nest is also an exercise in futility. Also, you can expect eggs again in about a week.
I also have always had success with using a wire floored cage. The fan is a nice [and somewhat amusing] touch. I suppose haveing a constant breeze on their butt is disconcerting. In my experience they also generally resume laying pretty quickly.
I too, used the wire cage method. 3 days was the longest the broodies needed to be in the cage. My BO took a week to begin laying again, a WL only tood 4 days. I am still waiting on 2 other BO's it has been over a week on both hopefully soon!