Broody pullet being seriously stubborn

[Anastatia_S]

My 8 month silkie pullet, Rose, has been broody for over a week now. We’ve tried the dog crate and she was in there for 4 days but it didn’t seem to faze her. She’s now back in the coop refusing to move. She’s never laid in the nesting boxes so she’s been sitting in the corner. I’ve been having to wear gardening gloves to move her out of the coop and she’s become quite nasty and won’t pass on a chance to peck my hands apart. I have been locking the coop door so she doesn’t have access during the day but she’s still determined to sit on her none existing eggs every morning and keeps putting up a good fight when I try to remove her. I don’t know whether I should give up and get some fertile eggs for her? But it’s basically winter in the uk and I’m not sure if chicks would be okay in such cold and wet conditions. Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lilmillefleur]

Was the dog crate off the ground? The best method is a wire-bottom cage off the ground to get air flow under her butt. If that doesn't work after a few days, just give her some time and she'll get over it eventually.

 

[3KillerBs]

Put her back in the broody breaker, making sure that there's a flow of cool air under her belly.

Some broodies are more stubborn than others and Silkies are noted for their dedication to setting.

 

[Anastatia_S]

Was the dog crate off the ground? The best method is a wire-bottom cage off the ground to get air flow under her butt. If that doesn't work after a few days, just give her some time and she'll get over it eventually.

Yeah, it was off the ground

 

[Anastatia_S]

Put her back in the broody breaker, making sure that there's a flow of cool air under her belly.

Some broodies are more stubborn than others and Silkies are noted for their dedication to setting.

I will do, I didn’t want to leave her in there for too long as I was worried she’d get stressed from being confined.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here is a useful article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

 

[Anastatia_S]

I put her back in the dog crate on Friday. I let her out this morning and she’s finally broke and has stopped being broody. But she hasn’t laid for a couple of days now.

 

[3KillerBs]

I put her back in the dog crate on Friday. I let her out this morning and she’s finally broke and has stopped being broody. But she hasn’t laid for a couple of days now.

It often takes a while for laying to resume after broodiness.

In these short days she may not resume until the days get longer.

She might also molt.

 

[Toryhillc]

My 8 month silkie pullet, Rose, has been broody for over a week now. We’ve tried the dog crate and she was in there for 4 days but it didn’t seem to faze her. She’s now back in the coop refusing to move. She’s never laid in the nesting boxes so she’s been sitting in the corner. I’ve been having to wear gardening gloves to move her out of the coop and she’s become quite nasty and won’t pass on a chance to peck my hands apart. I have been locking the coop door so she doesn’t have access during the day but she’s still determined to sit on her none existing eggs every morning and keeps putting up a good fight when I try to remove her. I don’t know whether I should give up and get some fertile eggs for her? But it’s basically winter in the uk and I’m not sure if chicks would be okay in such cold and wet conditions. Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated!

My lil silkie did the same thing her first winter. I tried everything and finally gave up as it was making my life and hers too frustrating. After a couple weeks she gave up. Since then she has been good and we have not had any issues this winter.

 

[Anastatia_S]

My lil silkie did the same thing her first winter. I tried everything and finally gave up as it was making my life and hers too frustrating. After a couple weeks she gave up. Since then she has been good and we have not had any issues this winter.

It can be super frustrating can’t it! I haven’t had anymore issues with her either (yet) haha. I have my fingers crossed she doesn’t get broody again, at least until summer.