Anyone else having a broody party???

[Redsquirrel]

Yeah I feel your pain people. I loved when 1 went broody but all of them is a little much! Hopefully it will pass. But I won't be holding my breath

And Debbie, yes- finding the place, etc for them to have their own space can be hard.

 

[HippiAiti]

How do you stop them from being broody short of giving them fertile eggs or chicks?

And if you put day old chicks under them, is it usually successful?

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Quote:
When breaking broodies, people usually give them a wire cage outdoors with a roof over it. No nesting material! And the only things that should be in the cage with them is food and water. There should be no bottom to the cage because:

1. Their droppings would simply fall right through (makes cleaning easier)

and 2. The wind would pick up and keep them from setting (cool air and bare bottoms don't mix with broodies.

)

People tend to keep them in their for about a week. Others wait until an egg is laid and then they know the hen isn't broody anymore. Broodies that are being broken should have NO sight of nesing material or eggs.

---
Some people put days old chickies with their hens, but you have to remember that like humans, some mommies are just not good.

People have put new babies that aren't the hens with the mom and the next day they find that she has killed them because they are not her own. Other hens will take the babies without complaints!

Is is usually successful? It depends on the hen.

 

[Redsquirrel]

Well said, Princess. I may have to do the cage thing with at least one persistent hen. Seems harsh but what else is there. No room for more babies.