Brooding???

[Johnn]

Of course that's true but since one BA was known to have laid 364 eggs in 365 days and they're advertised as being so productive you can hardly fault a family for choosing them when they can only have 2 hens.

My comments were not directed to the poster. I'm not sure if the person who is considering culling actually has a broody breed so unless they do then its not directed to them either, The only thing that got to me is the fact the first option was to cull the broody when she may give up in a few days and there might also be someone out there who will appreciate a broody. Anyways, I don't want to argue. Hopefully both hens get a good outcome

 

[Bethel3330]

I saw that in your next comment and couldn't delete. I was posting at the same time. No problem @Johnn

 

[bobbi-j]

I started chicken keeping when I was 9. I wanted egg layers at first but also wanted to save some, so I got ex battery hens. I then decided I would like to have chicks so I reaserched what breed would be best suited for my enviroment and how likely they are to go broody and I decided to get Orpingtons. And this is to your credit. I'm not judging at all. I just don't like it when people get broody breeds on purpose and then complain when they go broody all the time. My comments were not actually directed to the original poster as my friend uses the cage method and I don't go complaining to them so it would be a bit hypocritical. It was more directed to the the person who was considering culling theres because she was broody. If they had searched for another home who would want a broody and they couldn't find one then I would have no problem with them culling her if she was getting in the way. As I stated before, we don't know their circumstances. If they choose to eat their broody chicken, it still isn't a wasted bird. She fed a family. I know it's hard for people who try to breed and raise their own replacement birds (we do this, too, so I get it) to understand killing what we might call a "good" broody. For someone who doesn't or can't, it's a problem bird. We don't know if that person tried to sell her or give her away. We don't know if they live in an area where people are even looking for a broody. In an urban or suburban area, I can't imagine that there would be much of a market. I'm done now. I was not trying to start an argument, just present another point of view.

 

[jotebo]

After 4 days in the "Broody Jail (pen)" all is back to normal. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[AandVschickens]

Wow. There has been quite the exchange since I was last on. I think that attacking me because I "bought a broody breed" is totally uncalled for because I didn't know Buffs were "broody" and I did a great deal of research before I got into this (never saw a single thing about broodiness). You should see the coop and run I created from scratch for them. I am an animal LOVER and have had pets and animals all my life. Cruelty towards animals is against everything I believe in. Locking them in a cage in order to break them of a natural habit seems like cruelty in my mind, whereas a swift death and a meal is not cruelty when the animal was purchased for the purpose of generating food and has lived a VERY comfortable life up till now. All that aside I have decided to do nothing. She has been sitting in the nesting box for about a month now and the other chickens are laying around her. Literally, they climb over/on her and lay. It's quite amusing. Hopefully she will switch back to laying soon but as of now she is happy as can be. Thank you all for your input (as harsh as it may have been) and I appreciate the backyardchickens.com community. I would offer one suggestion. If you are as truly passionate about how people treat their chickens as it would seem, perhaps you could find other ways of communicating your thoughts as you are likely to drive people away from this very valuable resource. If I had not had the good experiences with this site I have had up till now, I would not have returned after the flaming on this thread. If people don't access this site for these types of questions then it is likely that more chickens will be mistreated due to ignorance.

jotebo - I'm glad to hear that your broody is back to laying.

Thanks again all, and happy farming!!

 

[bobbi-j]

A and V, I'm glad you didn't get permanently put off by the attitudes on this thread. You do have to do what you feel is best for your birds. That having been said, I would either break that broody that's been sitting for a month or get her a couple of babies to raise. But that's just me...

 

[AandVschickens]

A and V, I'm glad you didn't get permanently put off by the attitudes on this thread. You do have to do what you feel is best for your birds. That having been said, I would either break that broody that's been sitting for a month or get her a couple of babies to raise. But that's just me...

OK. I can't have more so I guess I will try to break her. Wish I could see a picture of the type of cage you are all talking about so I kind of knew what I was trying to do. Would a dog crate work? I know she shouldn't have bedding or any other "comforts" but I'm unsure of what the cage should consist of. All wire cube? I guess I'm trying to make it as uncomfortable as possible (while still protecting her and keeping her safe)?

 

[bobbi-j]

Honestly, I've never broken a broody. I live on a farm surrounded by hundreds of acres so I can have as many chickens as I want. And I would like to replace my layers from within my own flock, so I encourage broodies!

From what I've read, the wire dog crate should work. I don't believe breaking a broody is cruel. She'll be unhappy for a bit, but she'll have food, water and shelter. She won't be in any pain, you're not torturing her. You're not being cruel. If you were to withhold food, water and shelter, put her in danger, intentionally harm her - that's cruelty. There is the difference.

 

[Johnn]

OK. I can't have more so I guess I will try to break her. Wish I could see a picture of the type of cage you are all talking about so I kind of knew what I was trying to do. Would a dog crate work? I know she shouldn't have bedding or any other "comforts" but I'm unsure of what the cage should consist of. All wire cube? I guess I'm trying to make it as uncomfortable as possible (while still protecting her and keeping her safe)?

A dog cage will work as long as the bars at the bottom aren't too spacious if you know what I mean. And for the record, I didn't mean for what I said to come across as a personal attack, I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments. But I'm not going to lie, I do still stick by what I think but I guess everyone has their own opinion.

 

[Johnn]

Someone also said to put them in a horse feed bag and tie them up to a tree, deffo don't think thats a good idea lol