broody hen need suggestions

[l'abeille]

Our BA hatched last June laid almost no eggs all winter and now, just after she finally started laying, has decided to go broody. She's been "weird" for about a week and a half; tonight she is sleeping on an empty nest for the first time.

What is the quickest way to get her to lay again? We could buy her some day old chicks to raise, sticking in the nest at night. Or we could maybe try constructing a broody cage for her. I fear my husband will just cull her if it comes to that as he is fed up. Or we could giver her some of the week old chicks we have in the brooder, but I'd hate to lose any of those.

Suggestions? We have very little space, so please target your ideas with that in mind.

THank you!

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

When our hen went broody, we let her lay on two eggs for the 21, 22, 23 days, whatever it was, and then when they didnt hatch, we cracked them open and they were duds. Later she tried to brood again, and my hubby just kept taking her out of the nest and tossing her in the run with the others and she stopped going in there. That was last summer and she hasnt done it again......yet.

 

[cybercat]

Some say to break a broody put them in a wire cage with a fan underneath blowing up. The cool air breaks the broodiness.

 

[l'abeille]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried throwing her out of the nest box for a few days, but she's still trying to go for it. I got a plastic dog crate from a friend and have just put her in it in the yard. It has lots of airholes in the bottom and sides, so I hope that's as good as a wire cage. Poor baby, she looks so unhappy in there! wish me luck.