Broody breaking experiment: "The bunny cage method"

[featherpickingfool]

Bottom of crate should be open to the air....no bedding.

okay, I'll take out newspaper too. I read in another thread about keeping them in all night. How do you know when they are through with the broodiness?

 

[featherpickingfool]

The two brodies are locked up, bottom of cage is open. They stay the night in there?

 

[aart]

They stay the night in there?

Yes.
My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire(1x2) on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor, gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.

Oops, sorry @PippinTheChicken my technique is not yours.

 

[featherpickingfool]

This has been a great help. I have four hens(all silkies). In the past I have removed the hen from nesting box and carried them to the other chickens. They will poop, eat, scratch and return to nest. Repeat many times a day.
My hen, Delores was in the cage this morning chucking away. Clara who just started with her broodiness is much quieter.
I have one hen that maybe laying eggs right now. The other hen, Betty started being broody right after the hawk attack in January. She sat on eggs till easter when I got her five legbars. She has be raising the legbars and has just started to go look at the nesting boxes during the day. I hope she starts laying soon.

 

[featherpickingfool]

Second night in jail for both birds. This morning there was an egg in the jail. I thought maybe Clara was coming out of her brooding, she just started a couple days ago. She headed straight to the coop to sit in box. I put her back in jail.

 

[featherpickingfool]

My broody hens are on night four in jail. My broody Delores is still clucking. I took my five legbars chicks to my sister's flock. I was going to let my broody hens out in the morning and see if they are fixed yet.

 

[featherpickingfool]

The hens appear to be unbroody. They are staying out with other birds. I think they are getting used to fewer birds. This morning they were fussing with each other. The little silkies just stayed in their section while the big birds chased each other. Thanks for help.

 

[featherpickingfool]

The hens appear to be unbroody. They are staying out with other birds. I think they are getting used to fewer birds. This morning they were fussing with each other. The little silkies just stayed in their section while the big birds chased each other. Thanks for help.

Clara is still sitting in coop all day. I am back to removing her and letting her wander back in. I want to keep the dog cage for the little silkie(5weeks old) so I don't have to bring them in the house at night. I'm hoping the big silkies will let them in the coop. The other night there were unhappy bird squawks when I tired to insert them the other night.