Can I break a broody hen this way?

[ebisu]

We have no roosters. One of our 8 girls is broody for a few days now after first laying in December and so far I've been periodically removing her from the nesting boxes inside the coop so she can eat, drink, poop, stretch her legs, etc. She never pecks me just screeches and fluffs up but she does attack the others. She's a cuckoo maran and top of the pecking order.
I've read about the chicken jail method with a wire cage but I'm wondering if confining her in the space underneath the coop will work?

The run is attached to the coop which is off the ground. The space underneath the coop is 3 ft tall and 3 ft all around so PLENTY of space compared to a dog cage. The ground in the space is just loose dirt (the girls use the space for dust bathing). I was thinking of confining her in there with food and water for however long separating her from the rest of the run with a wire fence or gate so that she can still be perceived by the others. The space underneath also gets sunlight while being completely shielded from wind and rain.

If it doesn't work, I'll just have to try the wire cage method with no bedding inside the run. Can I also leave her in there overnight? I dont have the materials to close off the nest boxes if i let her back in during the night and some of the girls are early layers. Coop isnt big enough to fit the cage inside.

I live in FL and the lowest temp this week is 49 F.

 

[bill3607]

I think it probably would. I have used the jail method and it worked. However, after a couple weeks and I would have to repeat it for the same lady nearly every time before it really stuck. So, the last couple that I had go broody I just let it go, but I would take her out of the box and gather the eggs everyday. There would be some fussing of course. After, about a week of this she snapped out of it. I have been successful with my last 2 in this manner.

One thing is for certain, and that is that you will never know until you try.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It'll probably work. I don't have any sort of enclosure with an elevated wire floor and break all my broodies in enclosures sitting directly on the ground. If done early enough it should disrupt them enough to stop them from brooding. Your undercoop space sounds pretty ideal for trying this out.

If she's really starting to set already, she may attempt to brood right where she's standing (on the ground) and in that case you may need to elevate her so that cool air can get under the belly to break her.

 

[ebisu]

I see! I ended up putting her in a elevated large dog cage (the smaller holes facing the bottom) underneath the coop to prevent the others from climbing on top. She has food and water inside.

Can I leave her in there overnight? Or do you recommend letting her sleep in the coop? If she goes into the coop overnight, she'll end up going to the nest boxes instead of the roost bars.

 

[rayrose]

I have a white cochin that goes broody a lot. I used to use
the dog crate with good success, but it's become a PIA and
I don't have the heart to do it anymore, so I just let her be. I take any eggs out from under her and she squabbles, but always settles down. She eventually breaks herself.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can I leave her in there overnight? Or do you recommend letting her sleep in the coop? If she goes into the coop overnight, she'll end up going to the nest boxes instead of the roost bars.

Best to keep them locked up around the clock until they break. If you feel it's best to put her in the coop for safety reasons, remember to cage her up as soon as possible in the morning, and keep in mind that it may take longer to break her.

 

[ebisu]

Best to keep them locked up around the clock until they break. If you feel it's best to put her in the coop for safety reasons, remember to cage her up as soon as possible in the morning, and keep in mind that it may take longer to break her.

I've read 48-72 hrs is good then check. Yeah I figured if I let her back into the coop to sleep it'd make breaking harder. The underneath of the coop is the same as the run which is fortified by hardwire cloth wall and skirt, wooden beams go half a foot into the ground, ventilation, and shielded from wind/rain.

 

[ebisu]

The other girls are so interested in her food even tho it's the same!

 

[ebisu]

I have a white cochin that goes broody a lot. I used to use
the dog crate with good success, but it's become a PIA and
I don't have the heart to do it anymore, so I just let her be. I take any eggs out from under her and she squabbles, but always settles down. She eventually breaks herself.

What is PIA btw?
This is the first time I've dealt with a broody chicken as a first time chicken owner since last summer. How long did it take for yours to break herself and did she take breaks (eat/drink/stretch/poo) during her brood? I'm not around enough to watch them because of school and work.

 

[bill3607]

What is PIA btw?
This is the first time I've dealt with a broody chicken as a first time chicken owner since last summer. How long did it take for yours to break herself and did she take breaks (eat/drink/stretch/poo) during her brood? I'm not around enough to watch them because of school and work

I think that would be Pain in the ***