broody hen

[chicky1016]

My langshan hen has gone broody. Today is day 2. I want try to break her of this asap because I have read that the longer you wait, the harder it is. The issue I am having is that I have a wire cage, however the only way I can keep her safe from predators is to put the cage in the coop, which has pine shavings. If I section out a spot with no shavings and put the cage there, so that the bottom is bare, will that be just as good?

 

[aart]

Put the crate up on some lumber or bricks.
Water nipple bottle added after pic was taken.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I like Aart’s method but when my regular broody busters were occupied (one is my brooder, the other a grow-out coop) I suspended a dog cage from the ceiling. It was easier for me to get it out of the way by hanging it instead of propping it up. There are always different ways to do about anything.

If you can get them early they sometimes bust easier, but to me the big advantage is that they come back into lay faster. A broody hen lives a lot off of fat that she has stored up since she is not eating much. The longer she is broody the more fat she burns up. She has to replace that fat before she starts to lay again.

 

[chicky1016]

Thanks. I did just what you said. She was not happy.. I feel bad but she made me do it! Lol

 

[chicky1016]

Well this didn't work... she's still broody. What else can I try??

 

[Ridgerunner]

Occasionally that happens, I just do it again.

 

[aart]

Well this didn't work... she's still broody. What else can I try??

Just keep her in there until she passes the 'do not go to nest' test when you let her out.