Broody hen (cage?)

[Chicky1981]

I have a Silkie cross that has gone broody on me. I am normally able to break it in 2 days by making sure she doesn't constantly sit on the nest but this time she is being more stubborn. I have lifted her from the hen house this morning and she is currently happily scratching around my garden (on her own away from my other 2. Is this normal?) I know that if I let her back in the house she will go straight for the nest box. I have heard that cages are good for breaking a broody hen. What would people recommend? I have not had to isolate her before but I feel it might be necessary this time.She has been coming out in the morning to feed but she didn't today. I have been regularly removing freshly laid eggs so she doesn't have anything to sit on. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Vicky2479]

I recently broke a broody hen by putting her in a seperate cage, It's actually the coop/run combo I plan to use for my new silkies but i blocked the nest box and removed the tray under the roost so the air could get under her. Some people use wire cages suspended off the ground somehow, this allows the air to get under her as well. I Kept her in there for 3 days and it seems to have worked.

 

[Chicky1981]

I have got a large wire cat carrier for my broody. I put her in it this morning and she is really agitated. Is this normal? She came out of the house this morning before I put her in the carrier for a quick something to eat and drink then went straight back to the nest. Unfortunately I have been unable to safely put her in the run with my other chickens as the ground is too uneven. What is the best way to get her back with my other 2 girls when she is ready?

 

[Vicky2479]

I just let mine back in the run with others, no problems, I don't think a few days absence will matter that much, a new pecking order won't have been well enough established to cause much more that the odd squawrk of protest.