Broody fbcm

[cowboy bob]

Hi one of my Fbcm has become very broody. I have no rooster. She won’t leave the box and has removed her breast feathers To line her nest. Will she eventually give up. I was removing her from the egg box but she just goes right back. I can’t block it off other hens use it. Thanks

 

[rosemarythyme]

Put her in an isolation cage with some food and water, in sight of the others (in the coop or in/near the run is ideal). A wire cage elevated to air can flow under her would be the best option, however I've used everything from a brooder to a dog exercise pen.

Keep her in the cage around the clock for about 2 days. At that time, if she's shows fewer signs of broodiness (puffing up, flattening down and growling, tik tik tik noise) you can let her out to test her. If she runs back to the nest at any point (usually they don't do it immediately, but maybe after 15 minutes, maybe an hour) then she's not yet sufficiently broken and needs to go back to the cage for another 24 hours. Then let her out and test her again. Repeat until she's no longer going to the nest box.

IF the isolation cage is not safe for overnight stay (i.e. sits outside the run) then put her on the roost at night, and retrieve her from the nest box the next morning and put her back in the cage. It may take a little longer this way but better than letting a predator get to her.

 

[cowboy bob]

Put her in an isolation cage with some food and water, in sight of the others (in the coop or in/near the run is ideal). A wire cage elevated to air can flow under her would be the best option, however I've used everything from a brooder to a dog exercise pen.

Keep her in the cage around the clock for about 2 days. At that time, if she's shows fewer signs of broodiness (puffing up, flattening down and growling, tik tik tik noise) you can let her out to test her. If she runs back to the nest at any point (usually they don't do it immediately, but maybe after 15 minutes, maybe an hour) then she's not yet sufficiently broken and needs to go back to the cage for another 24 hours. Then let her out and test her again. Repeat until she's no longer going to the nest box.

IF the isolation cage is not safe for overnight stay (i.e. sits outside the run) then put her on the roost at night, and retrieve her from the nest box the next morning and put her back in the cage. It may take a little longer this way but better than letting a predator get to her.

Thanks. So I’m assuming she won’t just get over this.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks. So I’m assuming she won’t just get over this.

She will, after she's sat for the full period it would take to incubate and hatch eggs. In the meantime she'll lose some body condition, may be more prone to parasites, and in general be rather unpleasant to be around, all to result in no chicks.