broody hen in cage, how do I know she's not broody anymore?

[utterchaos]

I have a broody hen that I put in a cage 5 days ago. I thought she would lay an egg to let me know she wasn't broody anymore but she hasn't.
Is there any other way to tell if she's not broody anymore besides letting her out to see.

Thanks

 

[sonew123]

If she's broody she will not budge off her nest except to quickly eat and drink and poo-then settles right back into broodiness. She will not lay an egg that quickly-if she's truly broody -is she sitting on eggs? If she is then dont expect an egg for the 3+ weeks it takes her to hatch out and even then about 6 weeks after that-shes too busy with the chicks to thinkabout laying haha-Thats when I know my broodies are done taking care of her chicks-when she lays her first egg after caring for the babies-6-8 weeks with my girls. If she is not on a nest and walking back and forth - kinda restless-repeatedly all day...she is not broody-ler her out

 

[utterchaos]

No, No, she was broody but I'm trying to un-broody her. It says all over this site to put a broody hen in a wire cage which I did 5 days ago and I'm wondering when I know she is not broody anymore besides starting to lay.

Thanks

 

[krcote]

I can't imagaine how confining a broody hen to a small comfortable private space (hmmmm.... a lot like a nest....???) would break her of being broody?

 

[sonew123]

I think what other posters meant by breaking a broody is putting ahen in a wire bottom cage to allow free air to flow up to the nakedness the hens has on her chest-the cold air and such cause the broody to change her mind-no bedding-feed and water are fine.

After 5 days if she is still hunkered down..she's still broody. If you see her walking around and pacing-let her out-she will NOT lay an eggs for you anytime soon-even though she is not broody anymore-weeks really. I just had two girls that were broody-no eggs-nothing to sit on ( they were in their pen though) 4 weeks later no eggs still! So its all about being patient really.

 

[utterchaos]

Thanks so much. I did let her out and she is now fine. Didn't go near the nest boxes all day. Your help was greatly appreciated.

 

[sonew123]

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