Get Out of That Nestbox!

[aart]

but I can't figure out how to use it to make a broody jail -- the structure just isn't solid enough.

Go buy a crate, you won't regret it.

 

[Sally PB]

Dog crates have soooo many uses for me! I use them to harden off plants for the garden. I have one for chicken jail or a broody breaker, and a big one for a brooder.

And one for the dog.

 

[3KillerBs]

Go buy a crate, you won't regret it.

I am reluctant to spend the money right now when we will shortly be building a broody jail into the new coop in just a few weeks.

(I admit that I may be way too tired right now to be thinking clearly about the pros and cons of different options since I have been working more hours than I ought to for the past month and have several more weeks before the 3-day hard limit goes into effect in mid-May).

 

[rosemarythyme]

As much as I'm all for wire crates I honestly I still don't have one lol. I broke my first broody using a handmade tea cart that was left behind in the shed, by lying it down on the ground and wrapping it with wire to make a "cage."

Have a broody breaking in a dog exercise pen right now, I anticipate she'll be good to release tomorrow.

Long story short, almost anything will do in a pinch, as long as it's safe enough to keep her away from the nests for a few days.

 

[3KillerBs]

Long story short, almost anything will do in a pinch, as long as it's safe enough to keep her away from the nests for a few days.

That's good to know.

 

[theoldchick]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch/

 

[3KillerBs]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch/

Yes.

There will be a broody jail built into the new coop. In the current setup I can't create a place for her to be up on wire and still out of the wind, rain, etc. I had a picnic fly over the coop and part of the run but a hailstorm did it in last month. I have no ventilated sheds.

 

[1dog1cat6chicks]

I also have a broody hen, Bena, who is also an austrolorp, but black. It is so frustrating! Because we only have three laying hens at the moment, it’s easy to simply remove her from the nesting box (sometimes five or six times a day!). Then, when the other two have laid their eggs, I put a wire screen over the entrance to the boxes so Bena can’t go back in.
To her credit, even though she doesn’t like me taking her out, she’s never once got aggressive with me. She’s such a sweet girl. I often “reward” her for being outside with a few mealworms.
We don’t have the space for a broody buster, so I just keep an eye on her and keep removing her. I am thinking of seeing if the hubby will agree to leaving the “nursery” in place once our little girls are integrated, so it can be used as a broody buster. But with only one who ever goes broody, don’t know if he’ll agree with that idea. And she would be stuck inside with that setup anyway.

 

[3KillerBs]

I also have a broody hen, Bena, who is also an austrolorp, but black. It is so frustrating! Because we only have three laying hens at the moment, it’s easy to simply remove her from the nesting box (sometimes five or six times a day!). Then, when the other two have laid their eggs, I put a wire screen over the entrance to the boxes so Bena can’t go back in.
To her credit, even though she doesn’t like me taking her out, she’s never once got aggressive with me. She’s such a sweet girl. I often “reward” her for being outside with a few mealworms.
We don’t have the space for a broody buster, so I just keep an eye on her and keep removing her. I am thinking of seeing if the hubby will agree to leaving the “nursery” in place once our little girls are integrated, so it can be used as a broody buster. But with only one who ever goes broody, don’t know if he’ll agree with that idea. And she would be stuck inside with that setup anyway.

I am working too many hours to be continually managing her. The day I was off I pulled her out of the box a couple times, but it didn't affect her.

 

[1dog1cat6chicks]

I totally get that. It’s hard to be there to do it throughout the day. Best of luck to you!