Breaking Broody advice please!

[krista74]

Broody has now done 2 days and 2 overnight sleeps in the broody buster. Being that it is so hot today (100F+) I let her out so she could stretch her legs a bit. She ran off, out the coop, to join the flock who were out free ranging. She has been out for half an hour, and whilst she occasionally reverts back to the low broody cluck-cluck-clucks, she has spent some time digging in our compost heap and ate some lettuces in our garden, so I think she is having fun being out.

If she runs back to the coop, I will obviously lock her up again but for now she is enjoying some time with her friends. Except for George, the rooster, who is dancing his little heart out around her, lol.

Wish me luck! It might be starting to work!

- Krista

 

[krista74]

Sigh, my mistake.

She lasted half an hour before she snuck back to the coop. I had shut it before I let her out, so she was sitting on the door step waiting to be let in!

Back into the broody buster she went..... Another night in solitary!

- Krista

 

[Judy]

Just posting for support. Just keep reminding yourself that being broody for weeks on end is harmful and can even lead to death.

Also, don't worry about her needing to lay. Of course, that system is shut down now -- but in any case, I promise you, if they need to lay an egg, they will lay it, wherever they are. I rather doubt they could "hold it in" if they tried.

 

[krista74]

Thanks Judy, I appreciate the support.

This morning I took her out of the broody buster and she has been out with the flock in the run now for about 2 hours. So far she has not run back to the coop, which is progress - not that I want to jinx myself!

Hubby and I are going to town today, leaving in about an hour. I guess if she is still out with he others I will leave her with them and hope for the best. Obviously when I get back home I will check on her straight away, and if she's returned to the nest we all know where she will be heading, lol.

I'll keep you posted.....

- Krista

 

[krista74]

A quick update for anyone that may be interested....

Broody spent the whole day from 7am to 7.45pm outside with the flock! She hung out in the run until 1pm when they were all let out into the yard for the rest of the day to free-range, and despite having access to the coop (and her nest) ALL DAY she was not tempted once.

I thought we were really making progress (and indeed, I suppose we are) but as dusk came my dear Broody fell at the final hurdle.

When our girls enter the hen house they must first pass by the chick pen where a Momma Hen and 8 chicks live. After staring at the babies for a moment, the next step is to pass by the nest boxes.

I should not be surprised about what I found when I went to lock them in for the night.

Broody got as far as the nest, saw the plastic eggs, and hopped right on in while the rest of the flock went up to roost.

Back into the Broody Buster she went! It is going to be a fairly cool night tonight (we are expecting 55F overnight) so hopefully this will be the last stint in the buster cage for her.

We live and learn - clearly I need to do more to help her with this.

My plan for tomorrow night is to block off the nest boxes before they all head into the coop for the night. That way, even if she does stop to look at the babies, there is only one place she can go afterwards - up!

I will update you all tomorrow.....

- Krista

 

[SunkenRoadFarms]

A quick update for anyone that may be interested....

Broody spent the whole day from 7am to 7.45pm outside with the flock!  She hung out in the run until 1pm when they were all let out into the yard for the rest of the day to free-range, and despite having access to the coop (and her nest) ALL DAY she was not tempted once.

I thought we were really making progress (and indeed, I suppose we are) but as dusk came my dear Broody fell at the final hurdle.

When our girls enter the hen house they must first pass by the chick pen where a Momma Hen and 8 chicks live.  After staring at the babies for a moment, the next step is to pass by the nest boxes.

I should not be surprised about what I found when I went to lock them in for the night.

Broody got as far as the nest, saw the plastic eggs, and hopped right on in while the rest of the flock went up to roost.

Back into the Broody Buster she went!  It is going to be a fairly cool night tonight (we are expecting 55F overnight) so hopefully this will be the last stint in the buster cage for her.

We live and learn - clearly I need to do more to help her with this. 

My plan for tomorrow night is to block off the nest boxes before they all head into the coop for the night. That way, even if she does stop to look at the babies, there is only one place she can go afterwards - up!

I will update you all tomorrow.....

- Krista

Woohoo, progress!

 

[aart]

Just keep at it...and lo and behold..... one day she'll go to roost!

 

[DuckieLover2014]

How did she do so far today? I hope for a better weekend ahead for her.
Please keep us updated Krista~

 

[MistyMountain]

Subscribing. I have a LF cochin that has been broody the past two days. It's cold here, high of 34*F, low of 25*F. I am hoping the cold weather helps to break her. Funny thing is, we have had snow flurries both days and her name is Elsa (from Disney's Frozen).

this passes, I'm not into having chicks in the winter!

 

[krista74]

Good morning! It's a new day in Broody Buster land......

I let Broody out of her Buster cage this morning and she ran straight for her morning vegies - not the nest box! She does still occasionally revert back to the low 'bok-bok-boking" sound she used to make constantly when she was really broody, but she is not fluffed up at all anymore. I'm grateful for the cool weather today which I suspect will make things so much easier.

My plan is to let her hang out with the flock all day (providing she doesn't head for the nest boxes!) and then cover the nest boxes up in the evening so she can't access them. I will remove the covers after they have all been sleeping for a couple of hours, so that they are open when they all wake up tomorrow morning.

I have no idea if she is laying yet, as we just integrated 3 new hens into the flock this week too. She certainly has something to divert her from her broody behaviour - chasing the new girls! But, as I am not familiar with what the new girl's eggs look like, I therefore don't know if the new looking egg I found this morning was hers or one of theirs.....

Anyway, I'll be back after dark tonight to let you know how we all get on.

- Krista