At my wits end! Broody AGAIN!

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Aww, I do hope Henrietta feels better soon!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Remember, the purpose of the broody crate is to cool the hen's belly and breast, that's what breaks the broody cycle and changes the hormone levels, as I recall. That's why you want a wire crate and no bedding and it needs to be off the ground for airflow around her body. Good luck, sounds like this is really frustrating!

 

[Shadrach]

I've found the three days minimum sitting on the clutch is an important factor.
Years ago if they were broody I would take their eggs away immediately and of course they just went and laid another egg and sat on that the next day.
So, the three days sitting makes sure their egg laying cycle switches off and this seems to help.

 

[aart]

(mine is hard sided and listed as M/LG dog sized)

Hmmm....yeah...

Remember, the purpose of the broody crate is to cool the hen's belly and breast, that's what breaks the broody cycle and changes the hormone levels, as I recall. That's why you want a wire crate and no bedding and it needs to be off the ground for airflow around her body. Good luck, sounds like this is really frustrating!

This^^^

 

[CSAchook]

No, my coop won't accommodate the crate and I don't have a smaller one like yours (mine is hard sided and listed as M/LG dog sized). I'll just leave her on the porch and move her to the run, under the coop (it's free standing with an area underneath for dry roosting when it rains.)

Thank you so much; Henrietta is a tricky one in that she doesn't necessarily live on the nest each time but the broody is strong with her she turns into Gollum from Lord of the rings with her "precious"

This year, when the most stubborn of my hens went broody, I tried a cool bath in addition to the broody breaker. Just held her in a pan of chest high cool (but not cold) water for around 5-10 minutes. Let her dry off some, then moved her to the breaker. She broke after 24 hours. Last summer it took 5 days in the breaker. Assuming your temps are warm, maybe this would be worth trying for your girl? Just an idea. Best of luck to you!

 

[ocap]

put her on Craig's List for $100, she is a valuable hen to a prepper!

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x BigBlueHen53 & aart - Broody Jail is a wire cage, for air circulation around her. You can get those wire cages in different sizes, make sure there's room for food/water, remove the bottom tray and place a piece of 1x2 welded wire at the bottom, suspend or elevate off the ground.

My first broody, I didn't think it was anything to worry about until I found out how much weight she lost. Removing from the nest was good exercise for me but she went right back in. Finally purchased a wire crate, 3 days was the max I've had to keep any in.

 

[ValerieJ]

put her on Craig's List for $100, she is a valuable hen to a prepper!

I think you are being serious, but I laughed out loud.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks to @aart and others for supporting what I said about the wire cage, but credit where credit is due: I learned that here on BYC. I wish I could tell y'all if I got that from @Shadrach or @Wyorp Rock but I really don't recall, sorry. I just saw that OP's hen keeps going back into broody mode and she is using an enclosed dog crate, so thought she needed to know this.

 

[aart]

I learned that here on BYC.

We all did....I do not recall the first person I heard(read) it from.
Not like it's a patented device