First Experience A Broody 10 Month Old Pullet

[Stepnout]

My barnyard mix Australop has gone broody today. I noticed these past 2 weeks she has become cranky with her flock sisters. I went to the coop 3 times and she was in the nest box each time. I put gloves on and took the eggs, of course she got nasty pecking and telling me off. I put her out in the run and locked the doors. The girls are locked in the coop for the night but the nest box is locked. I have no intention of raising chicks at this time.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Well.. you did the right thing!

 

[Stepnout]

Lol poor thing, she’s all bent out of shape this morning but she left the coop this morning with the others. I’ll wait until the eggs are laid ( I have 5 hens) and lock them in the run again a bit later. Sad thing is I work tomorrow and my lovely bride of 38 years 7 months is soaking up the sun in Florida leaving me here to deal with the 6-8 inches of snow later today. SNOW

 

[aart]

Got room in the coop for a wire crate?
'Tis the season, I've got one in the breaker crate right now.

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[Stepnout]

Thanks aart.

 

[Stepnout]

I only have a plastic dog crate. She was back in the nest box so I put her in the crate in the run until the others lay. Her sisters all gathered around the crate looking at her

 

[aart]

That might do the trick...wire is better tho.

Her sisters all gathered around the crate looking at her

Wonders what they are saying...."Oooo you in big trouble now girl!"

Start shopping for some wire ones, can get them pretty cheap(~$20) at flea markets/yard sales. Rig with cage wire on bottom. Foldables are easy to store.
They are really handy!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[Stepnout]

I had one last year gave it away to a guy at work getting a new puppy Never thought I would need it for chickens. I could have use twice and likely need it again

Kept her in there for 3 hours picked up 4 eggs from her sisters and they all went out free ranging for 30 min. They are back in I’ll check in a bit to see if she lays an egg......she did yesterday, I’ll lock the coop again.

That might do the trick...wire is better tho.

Wonders what they are saying...."Oooo you in big trouble now girl!"

Start shopping for some wire ones, can get them pretty cheap(~$20) at flea markets/yard sales. Rig with cage wire on bottom. Foldables are easy to store.
They are really handy!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[Stepnout]

Well no egg from the broody today. I checked several times to make sure she didn't lay on the ground as I kept them all locked out of the coop until dusk. The nest box is still locked. I have to work tomorrow And will have to come home on lunch to lock her out again.

 

[aart]

Well no egg from the broody today. I checked several times to make sure she didn't lay on the ground as I kept them all locked out of the coop until dusk. The nest box is still locked. I have to work tomorrow And will have to come home on lunch to lock her out again.

Or you could just leave her in there until after work then give her a walkabout.