Breaking broody hen wuestion

[Lisa L]

Hi all. My bantam cochin, Ellen, has been broody going on week seven now. She has been notorious for this and it's exasperating! I have tried locking her out of the coop, but as soon as she gets back in at night she runs right for that nest box and I have to remove her again every morning. I have tried blocking entrance to the nest box, but she just plops down on front of them. My next move is to place her in a wire cage. So my question is...do I put the cage inside the coop or a omewhere else? Help!

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all. My bantam cochin, Ellen, has been broody going on week seven now. She has been notorious for this and it's exasperating! I have tried locking her out of the coop, but as soon as she gets back in at night she runs right for that nest box and I have to remove her again every morning. I have tried blocking entrance to the nest box, but she just plops down on front of them. My next move is to place her in a wire cage. So my question is...do I put the cage inside the coop or a omewhere else? Help!

Read the section on breaking a broody here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

You really should have dug out the wire dog crate the first time. Nothing else really works unless they're not very serious about being a broody.

 

[Lisa L]

Read the section on breaking a broody here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

You really should have dug out the wire dog crate the first time. Nothing else really works unless they're not very serious about being a broody.

Great info. Thank you. I'm still not sure where to put the cage. Inside coop or out.

 

[NatJ]

Great info. Thank you. I'm still not sure where to put the cage. Inside coop or out.

Either one can work fine.

Most people choose based on the size of the coop, and the arrangement of the coop and run. So the cage might go in the coop, in the run, next to the run, or somewhere else yet. With the flock or near the flock is nice but not required.

Of course you don't want the hen sitting in direct sun or getting wet in the rain (not a problem inside the coop, but something to watch for with other locations.)

 

[Lisa L]

Either one can work fine.

Most people choose based on the size of the coop, and the arrangement of the coop and run. So the cage might go in the coop, in the run, next to the run, or somewhere else yet. With the flock or near the flock is nice but not required.

Of course you don't want the hen sitting in direct sun or getting wet in the rain (not a problem inside the coop, but something to watch for with other locations.)

Thank you very much! Off to chicken jail she goes! Wish us luck!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Great advice! I will add that I ended up having to bring the broody jail into my bathroom to finally break my Brahma, Aster. Some birds are just stubborn! Sounds like your Ellen may be one of those, too. Good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Either one can work fine.

Most people choose based on the size of the coop, and the arrangement of the coop and run. So the cage might go in the coop, in the run, next to the run, or somewhere else yet. With the flock or near the flock is nice but not required.

Of course you don't want the hen sitting in direct sun or getting wet in the rain (not a problem inside the coop, but something to watch for with other locations.)

x2. Put it where it fits, and where the hen is safe from predators and the elements.

IF your weather is very hot right now, you may even need to move her indoors as it can be difficult to break a broody out in hot temperatures, since their body heat isn't dropping enough.

 

[Lisa L]

Excellent advice! I have her caged in their run area so she is near her friends. I will leave her there for a few days. Hopefully that'll work! Thanks again.

 

[-Shade-]

Either one can work fine.

Most people choose based on the size of the coop, and the arrangement of the coop and run. So the cage might go in the coop, in the run, next to the run, or somewhere else yet. With the flock or near the flock is nice but not required.

Of course you don't want the hen sitting in direct sun or getting wet in the rain (not a problem inside the coop, but something to watch for with other locations.)

Another thing I would consider about where to put the hen is if you have any predator or rodent problems. If you do, I'd suggest in the coop if possible.