Another broody post

[NorthwoodsChick]

Hey peeps.
I have a 8- month old Australorp that’s been broody for 3 weeks- not sitting on eggs. I have tried everything I know of to break her and cannot. (crate on blocks, cool water plunge, remove from nest to the roost, remove nest pads) I do not in any way want to give her eggs or chicks- it’s cold and she’s at the very bottom of the pecking order.
What else can I do?

 

[DobieLover]

How long was she confined to the elevated wire crate day and night?

 

[aart]

Pic of said crate would be good too.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

How long was she confined to the elevated wire crate day and night?

3 days then out—went to nest. Another 3 days then out- scratched in yard for 30 min then bee lined it to the nest.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Pic of said crate would be good too.

Its a large wire dog crate set on 4x4 blocks with bottom pan removed, and one 2x4 inside for a perch. Same as I have always done with others and had great successes- until this girl. I donated all my other crates to NC

 

[aart]

Its a large wire dog crate set on 4x4 blocks with bottom pan removed, and one 2x4 inside for a perch. Same as I have always done with others and had great successes- until this girl. I donated all my other crates to NC

Is she trying to 'hatch' the 2x4?
I had to remove it from one of my broodies because she used it to keep her belly warm.
Had read of that happening and thought it was nuts until it happened here.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Is she trying to 'hatch' the 2x4?
I had to remove it from one of my broodies because she used it to keep her belly warm.
Had read of that happening and thought it was nuts until it happened here.

Good, Lord I hope she’s not that dumb. But, yes, she was squatting on the 2x4. I thought she was just roosting.

 

[SkyAJK]

Hey peeps.
I have a 8- month old Australorp that’s been broody for 3 weeks- not sitting on eggs. I have tried everything I know of to break her and cannot. (crate on blocks, cool water plunge, remove from nest to the roost, remove nest pads) I do not in any way want to give her eggs or chicks- it’s cold and she’s at the very bottom of the pecking order.
What else can I do?

Spring time is the time of broodiness. I had 5 of them went on broody at the same time, they were all very aggressive and caused a lot of disturbances in the run.
I had done:
Let them out in the open garden, no access to their coops or runs. They just sat there and were not interested in anything at all.
Soaked them in bucket of water here and there everyday as I read online that this cool down their body temperature.
After a week like that, a few got out of broodiness, but a few still persisted.
I was busy at one stage and there were a few rainy days, so those that still broody got back sitting in the nest boxes. I was busy so it was sort of free up my time when they are like that.
2 did sat in the nest box passed 30 days, and got off it themselves, but their broodiness started other to go broody. So it went on.
When the weather permitted, I just have those broody hens out in the general garden. At the moment, I have no broody hens, but that is just for now.

 

[aart]

Good, Lord I hope she’s not that dumb. But, yes, she was squatting on the 2x4. I thought she was just roosting.

If she's sitting on it most the day, then yeah she's that 'dumb'.
It's instinct just like they will brood on nothing(no eggs).

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

If she's sitting on it most the day, then yeah she's that 'dumb'.
It's instinct just like they will brood on nothing(no eggs).