Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[appps]

Ok needing some pros advice... I have a broody who is a stubbon mule (so to speak) she has been isolation for at least 36 hours dunked in a tub of water and still is not broken. So my question is there something else I should try or should I let her have a few eggs? Currently still taking her out of the nest.

36 hrs is nothing, that's just your regular broody, now when you hit a week, then, you can call her stubborn

You can try all sorts of things, lots of weird and wonderful ideas on here but they all boil down to one basic thing. Allow no access, day or night for at least 3 days to the nesting box but continue even longer depending on determination.

I don't do any more sometimes than leave them in the backyard instead of the run so they can't get into the nest box and even that works fine. It's just about keeping them off 24/7 but 3-5 days is fairly normal.

 

[Ashburnham]

Ok needing some pros advice... I have a broody who is a stubbon mule (so to speak) she has been isolation for at least 36 hours dunked in a tub of water and still is not broken. So my question is there something else I should try or should I let her have a few eggs? Currently still taking her out of the nest.

She needs to be isolated somewhere that she cannot nest. A wire bottomed cage is ideal. It takes at least 3 days to break them.

 

[krista74]

Ok needing some pros advice... I have a broody who is a stubbon mule (so to speak) she has been isolation for at least 36 hours dunked in a tub of water and still is not broken. So my question is there something else I should try or should I let her have a few eggs? Currently still taking her out of the nest.

I hope you don't mind me chiming in here, but I have had a lot of experience with broody hens of late. The hot weather makes breaking them very challenging.

I'm not sure what sort of set-up you have for your hen, but I would recommend a wire cage with a fine wire base, and it should be raised off the ground like this one:-

Exhibit A - Naughty Hen in Busterville....


In the cage should be nothing but a large tub of water that can't be knocked over, a feed bowl, and your hen. No bedding, no nesting materials at all. You can give her something nice to eat like a tomato to keep her occupied if you want to though

The cage should be placed in a spot where a cool breeze can go past it, and if possible under a tree is ideal. Make sure she is protected from the elements - a roof over it to keep off the sun, and if it's raining I usually put a big bed sheet over the top of the roof and let it hang down so that the rain can't come in.

She can stay in the cage for anywhere up to 48 hours, at which point you can 'test her' by letting her out of the cage for half an hour in the morning and the evening. If she runs back to the coop and the nest boxes, back into the buster cage she goes! If she shows no interest in the nest, she can re-join the flock.

Normally, a stint in the buster cage only takes three or four days, but with the hot weather it is harder - there are not many cool breezes to be found! I have only just broken a broody, who was stubborn as all get-out and it took 8 (yes, EIGHT) days in the cage. Even at the end, I had to block access to the nest boxes when she went into the coop to roost at night, because as soon as she even saw them she would go all clucky on me again!

The other alternative, of course, is to let your girl hatch eggs. I don't think there are many people on this site who would argue against that! It is a personal choice though, and should be based on many considerations such as wether you have the space available for them as chicks, enough room once they grow into adulthood, the money to feed them all and the time to care for them.

It is certainly the most FUN option though, and I can highly recommend it!

Good luck!

- Krista

 

[appps]

I'm busting one by just letting it wander round my backyard so it can't get in the nest box starting tomorrow. Maybe we should see which method works first

 

[Ashburnham]

When I have a number of broodies they all go in a small pen without nests where they all drive each other crazy.

 

[smhoekzema]

Yep we are up to day 6 here with my frizzle. Talk about persistence! She roams the backyard during the day and then at night I block off the nest before letting her in. I go out when it gets dark to make sure she is on the roost. Tonight she had made herself a little nest on the floor of the coop:/ Gaaaahhhh!

 

[birdman55]

hope everyones day is going great just came in for a break...got three boards in the ground for the next three coups...gotta love the frozen ground

 

[krista74]

When I have a number of broodies they all go in a small pen without nests where they all drive each other crazy.

I love this post.

The true definition of "Misery Loves Company!"

Yep we are up to day 6 here with my frizzle. Talk about persistence! She roams the backyard during the day and then at night I block off the nest before letting her in. I go out when it gets dark to make sure she is on the roost. Tonight she had made herself a little nest on the floor of the coop:/ Gaaaahhhh!

I feel your pain. This is exactly what my girl did. I love the idea of letting them roam the yard during the day with their friends, but my little red was so far gone she would just hunker down anywhere! She even did it in the Buster Cage on the wire base, but at least there was still air flowing freely underneath her - no matter how hard she hunkered!

I love broody hens though. Yes, they are a lot of work and stress sometimes (I often feel as if I'm going to break before she does!) but honestly....they are just so darn cute when they are trying to be all puffed up and vicious!

- Krista

 

[satay]

Ok needing some pros advice... I have a broody who is a stubbon mule (so to speak) she has been isolation for at least 36 hours dunked in a tub of water and still is not broken. So my question is there something else I should try or should I let her have a few eggs? Currently still taking her out of the nest.

I can honestly say I have never tried to break a broody.. I just let them be and eventually they get over it. You know I am an enabler so of course I will tell you to give her eggs.

 

[satay]

hope everyones day is going great just came in for a break...got three boards in the ground for the next three coups...gotta love the frozen ground

You are either a very brave or very crazy man working out in the snow .