dumb question about a broody hen

[bluey]

The nice thing about having a broody is when you are ready to raise chicks, there really is no easier incubation process, but loss of egg production can be annoying.

And breaking a broody doesn't seem to affect her future broodiness.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I don't think there are any chicks in the feed store right now. Plus, with urban chickens, I think I am limited to 5 chickens max. Of course, I could be illegal already. Who knows.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
sometimes longer.. I had a turkey that sat on an empty nest for over 5 weeks.. finally a neighbor gave me some guinea eggs that were pipping and I put them under the turkey.. she hatched them out in a day and raised 3 guinea babies..
that turkey never did lay any eggs of her own.

remember, if you buy chicks for her to raise, you will go without eggs for about 2 months.. those BO's just love motherhood.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Oh that doesn't sound good. I guess I will have to make a chicken jail tomorrow.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Orpingtonmanor i just broke a broody myself, (1 down 3 more broodies to go) She was in the garage coop so i took her in the house and put her in with a bunch of 3 month old babies, she snapped out of it in 2 days. I think any cage will work as long as there is NO nesting materials in there. Good luck with her

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Okay, it sounds like I need a small rabbit cage with a wire floor that I can put in the coop. She can still be near the others without having access to the nesting box. I don't think I can get it before tomorrow. I don't get off work early enough today.

Thanks everybody!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Here is my broody girl before I put her in solitary. My little Tatertot has been quite the hot potato lately.

Tatertot is now unhappily cooling down in her chicken jail. After she grabbed a couple bites of food, and paced and grumbled, she pooped the biggest smelliest poop I've ever seen from a chicken. You would've thought she was a turkey!

Here is the "break the broody" set-up.

Now let's see if she gets back to her old self.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Well, she's been in the jail for only a few hours, but has already got her comb bleeding just above her nostrils. I am guessing it's from banging her head on the cage. I also thought it could be because she dumped her food and it went into the tray below the wire. She was trying to peck at it. I have refilled it, but she is spilling it just by pacing in the cage.

Will she settle down? What should I do for the raw area on her comb?

Thanks.

 

[bluey]

Sorry, I can't help you on that one.

My chickens free range, so when I break my broody, I just don't give her access to the coop during the day or just pull her out of the coop every time I find her in there.

Maybe put a little neosporin on her comb to prevent infection?

 

[jacyjones]

I break mine by putting them in a corner of the tack room on a cold concrete floor with food and water and enough room to walk about in. I think maybe your cage is a bit small - as you say there is not much headroom for her. do you have anywhere else you could keep her where she cannot get comfortable? I have heard other people try putting a bag of ice under the chicken's bottom but I supose that is a bit cruel in the winter!!!! You don't wnat frostbite!