Can you "prevent" broodiness through nest box choice?

[thecatumbrella]

My Omlet Eglu's nest box is like catnip for broodies. Dark, private, cozy-ish (I'm training them to lay on a plastic pad). But what if I were to change their egg-laying arrangements to something well-lit with more foot traffic and a nice breeze (like out in the run)? Could this reduce the chances of my birds going broody?

I'm going to guess "no", since I have Cochin Bantams and they have a genetic predisposition to sit. Still worth asking if anyone's experimented with such things.

Also, if you're wondering why I got Cochin Bantams, but don't want them to hatch eggs... I don't know what to tell you. Feel free to point and laugh.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If they aren’t comfortable they won’t lay there. So if you manage to prevent broodiness I suspect you will manage to prevent laying. More likely they will find a place to hide and lay that will be even less preferable to you.

 

[Pukkits]

I have orpingtons. I don't want them to hatch eggs either. Similar issue. So far of the new birds I only have one broody (started at 5 months). I'm still trying to find a solution. So far, I just broody jail in a dog crate in the run for four days.

Our late Barred Rock would just go lay eggs under the huge lilac in the run. I discovered a circle hoe is the perfect diameter to loop and drag an egg from under a bush.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Our jailbird says “hi.” I just moved her to the crate today. And yes, she somehow got her food bowl under the poop side of her perch.

Sigh.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I gave her a week, but it’s been really disruptive to the flock. They all lay at the same time of day, and since she was tying up a nest box, the other two were frantic to get into the other, which she was defending. The younger two, who are otherwise integrated, were terrified of her when I took her off the nest twice a day to take a break. She’s losing her place in the very mild pecking order, so I’m expecting her to start bullying again.

Chicks are not in our future (zoning limit of seven animals total, and we have a cat.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If they aren’t comfortable they won’t lay there. So if you manage to prevent broodiness I suspect you will manage to prevent laying. More likely they will find a place to hide and lay that will be even less preferable to you.

Yeah, I understand this is risk. I'm hoping I can make it the least worst option? We'll see... I'm guessing most people don't have exterior nest boxes for a reason!

She’s losing her place in the very mild pecking order, so I’m expecting her to start bullying again.

I was going to ask if this was the same one that was getting the squirt gun "therapy".

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Yeah, I understand this is risk. I'm hoping I can make it the least worst option? We'll see... I'm guessing most people don't have exterior nest boxes for a reason!

I was going to ask if this was the same one that was getting the squirt gun "therapy".

Yes, it was. She was bullying before going back into broodiness.

And you know what’s breaking my heart? The other four are doing so much better overall without her, except for the nest box access. (This has been for the entire time, when she was in her box, not just today.) She’s always been incredibly dramatic, stirring up trouble, even without necessarily being mean.

Her two hatch mates keep going into the run to look at her in the dog crate. Like visiting day at the prison.

 

[Pukkits]

Our jailbird says “hi.” I just moved her to the crate today. And yes, she somehow got her food bowl under the poop side of her perch.

Sigh.
View attachment 4202937

She looks unrepentant. And like she wants a tin cup to bang on the bars.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Yes, it was. She was bullying before going back into broodiness.

And you know what’s breaking my heart? The other four are doing so much better overall without her, except for the nest box access. (This has been for the entire time, when she was in her box, not just today.) She’s always been incredibly dramatic, stirring up trouble, even without necessarily being mean.

Her two hatch mates keep going into the run to look at her in the dog crate. Like visiting day at the prison.

Are you thinking of rehoming her? It sounds very frustrating. Of course, she's super adorable and has no clue she's doing anything "wrong". It's tough being a chicken!

Dealing with bully reform ourself. Really need a success story because our flock is down to the nubbies.