Broody Hen Switching Nest Boxes Daily?

[Patinas]

Please try to break her broodiness. It is soooo unhealthy.

Yes, I will take her off the nest today and see what she does. She's definitely not hiding from the others because she has always been 2nd in command in the pecking order. No one has ever picked on her....although maybe her ranking has changed now due to her not interacting with the flock?

 

[Patinas]

Let me refer you back to post #3. An elevated open bottom cage is the tried and true method of breaking broodiness that has been used for centuries.

How long do I leave her in the cage before returning her back to the coop? Or is this a trial and error type of thing?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't adequate to take her off the nest or even block the nests. A broody will simply plunk down wherever they can. That keeps the underbelly warm which maintains the hormone cycle. The belly needs to be exposed to cool air continuously for at least a couple days if caught early. The longer a hen is broody, the harder it is to break them.

Again, an elevated wire bottom cage.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How long do I leave her in the cage before returning her back to the coop? Or is this a trial and error type of thing?

Sorry, I guess I was typing while your were.
At least 2 days. If you let her out and she heads back into a nest, immediately back in the cage she goes.

 

[Kiki]

No bedding in cage.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Chickens are never barnyard valedictorians.

They are compared to guineas!!!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

We used to have a flock of about 100 white leghorns. There were about 5 cages suspended from the roof of the hen house. It seems like there were always a couple hens in broody jail.
The cage doesn't have to be elaborate. Ours were homemade from woven wire fencing and a few wooden slats for rigidity.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

My favorite hen changed nests when she was broody. I'm pretty sure that other hens would get in the nest with her, and then chase her out, or she would get up to do something, then another hen would get in her nest. Then she'd find an unoccupied nest and stay there. Drove me crazy because I really wanted her to have chicks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As sourland said, it is best to put setting hens in their own quarters with a single nest. That eliminates lots of problems associated with hen incubated eggs.

 

[Patinas]

Ok, I have a fairly large dog kennel that I can set up in the garage. I'm thinking I'll raise it up on two saw horses and put some 1/2" mesh under it so her feet don't fall through. Or, do I just use the tray that slides in and out from the bottom of the kennel. Would she be too freaked out if there is nothing under her but wire raised 3-4 feet off the ground? Sorry if these are stupid questions but this is my first rodeo with a broody.