Broody(?) but do not lay eggs

[Ted Brown]

I waited until late pm and then opened the small cage, the hen came out fluffed up and scrunched down, quickly went back to the nest boxes. I immediately moved her to the cage, try again in 48hrs.

I also put W2, the replacement cockerel for Wilfred, in the run late pm with other birds and let them have at it. Born in December and from a free range flock with eight cockerels he quickly dominated but is still dealing with challenges. As yet (2-3 hours) he has not gone into the coop. I was impressed with his spunk.

 

[Ted Brown]

I moved my caged broody from the cage to the roost after everyone was already up. Great squawks but she did stay up for the 5 minutes I stood there. She did a return 48+ hour cage session after the first did not deter her.

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart (and everyone else of course)

I checked broody hen 1 this morning, she is in the run with the rest of the flock rather than in the nest boxes. I will clean the cage up and start the same break process with hen 2.

One difference on the second confinement was that I waited until the rest of the flock was on the roosts and transferred her directly from cage to roost.

Great advice, thanks!

 

[aart]

One difference on the second confinement was that I waited until the rest of the flock was on the roosts and transferred her directly from cage to roost.

I like to release them from crate about an hour before roost time, then see if they go to roost or back to nest.

 

[Ted Brown]

I like to release them from crate about an hour before roost time, then see if they go to roost or back to nest.

Guess I will find out tonight, will update.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have just checked my flock, broody #1 is on the roost and spent all day in the run with most of the other hens. @aart process was:

...

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.
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.
View attachment 3139445

 

[Ted Brown]

I did the same process with broody #2, again moved her directly from the cage to the roosts late evening after the rest of the flock was settling. This morning I checked to see if she was in the run or back in the nests boxes, in the run.

Success!