Good girl gone broody - how do I know when she's done?

[CrazyTownChick]

So I've spent a lot of time this week reading through all the Broody Hen posts and have learned a lot! Thanks to all who shared their knowledge. I'm adding to the discussion with just one question about my broody girl....once isolated in Broody Jail with food and water, how do you know when she's done with her broody cycle?

Our 13 girls, mixed breeds, are a little over 10 months and are all reliable, almost daily egg layers. They are pets and many will jump up on my lap for pets and waddle strokes. Our flock consists of 1 RIR, 1 "production red," 3 mixed (CA) white leghorns, 2 EEs, 3 golden sexlinks, and 3 Isa browns. One of the white leghorns, little Foggy, was the first in our flock to lay, right on time at 20 weeks - a beautiful light beige perfect egg. She has not seemed dominant and is a bit shy about grabbing for treats when I hand them out. Not aggressive but not overly friendly toward me ( as some are very friendly).

Little miss Foggy got bit by the broody bug recently. Again, no rooster or chicks in sight. Saw a few signs of it when she'd stay in her favorite nest box for a few hours at a time and left fluffy feathers in there. Opened the door to collect eggs and she'd trill at me, kind of hiss, fluff herself out to 3 x her normal size, and tell me to get the heck out. Now. Then caught her sleeping in it at night. Now she's full blown, big fluffed out Tom Turkey, loudly squawking and obsessed with nesting. Pulled her out of the nesting box and walked her over to the run for treat time this morning. She was mad, but at least ate a little, sauntered around and after about 5 minutes of the low growly mumbles, she made her way back up the ramp to her safe place.

Today we got a smaller dog crate, set it up with cardboard on top, hardware cloth on bottom, and a 1 x 2 roost, plus food and water in bowls. It's in the coop, since that's the only place that makes sense. When we put her in, she was none too pleased. She protested loudly and made noises I never knew a hen could make. We have a baby monitor type camera in the coop so we can see that she's been pacing, tossing over the food and water bowls (which we just upgraded with food storage bowls glued to a board so she can't toss), sticking her head through the bars (Jailbreak!?!??) and begging her friends to bust her outta that joint.

I have to admit I was pleased to see about 4-5 of her flock buddies check in on her. Fortunately I don't think they read the instructions on opening the crate door. Also, before I invited (pulled) her out of the chosen nesting box, one of the EEs had wedged herself in the box with her, and I think she laid her egg at that time! Hope she's not thinking of going broody too.

Current status of the Jail Bird: in jail, same rebellious ornery attitude, has a new water/food contraption that she can't kick or knock over (we'll see) and is serving her time.

So.....to all those who've been through this a million (it must seem) times, how do you know when she's fully served her sentence and is no longer a menace to flock society? JK, she's just a good girl gone broody.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

....anticipating a few answers, is there a good way vs. bad way to integrate her back into the flock? a good time? take the broody jail away?

 

[spindrifter]

I'm by no means mega experienced but just had my first 4 hens go through the same thing - not all 4 at the same time. I basically just took the hen out of "the doghouse" after a couple of days and watched her bahaviour - if she beelined for the coop and nest box, back into the doghouse she went ! If she stayed out and joined the flock, I'd keep an eye on her and check that she doesn't sneak back into the coop to sit on an empty nest or steal someone else's eggs. After a few days they're all back into laying again.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

I'm by no means mega experienced but just had my first 4 hens go through the same thing - not all 4 at the same time. I basically just took the hen out of "the doghouse" after a couple of days and watched her bahaviour - if she beelined for the coop and nest box, back into the doghouse she went ! If she stayed out and joined the flock, I'd keep an eye on her and check that she doesn't sneak back into the coop to sit on an empty nest or steal someone else's eggs. After a few days they're all back into laying again.

Thanks so much! Makes perfect sense to me. After 2-3 Days we'll let her out IF she seems normal and just watch her.
Sounds like it could recurring too.

 

[3KillerBs]

....anticipating a few answers, is there a good way vs. bad way to integrate her back into the flock? a good time? take the broody jail away?

If you have the broody-breaker in the coop there's no need for reintegration because she never left the flock.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Great point! She will be with the others at night in the coop and when each of them takes their turn laying. Makes sense again, thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Go by behavior, and a bit of time. I give it 48 hours before I consider doing a test release. But if she's still puffing, hissing, tik-tik-tik-ing, you don't even need to test her... check back in 12 hours or so.

Once you do let her out to test her, the main thing to look for is that she doesn't return to the nest box. She may not head in immediately (might walk around and eat and drink, or dust bathe) but if she goes in and sits, she's not broken yet, and needs more time out.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Check for that broody cluck cluck cluck. Once that stops you can try letting her out. If she goes straight to the box then back into jail she goes. Mine had to be in the cage for 72hrs. She was pissed. Throwing her food and water everywhere. Screaming at me. But she broke and is now roosting again.

 

[writerskramp]

Cheep.. cheep.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Go by behavior, and a bit of time. I give it 48 hours before I consider doing a test release. But if she's still puffing, hissing, tik-tik-tik-ing, you don't even need to test her... check back in 12 hours or so.

Once you do let her out to test her, the main thing to look for is that she doesn't return to the nest box. She may not head in immediately (might walk around and eat and drink, or dust bathe) but if she goes in and sits, she's not broken yet, and needs more time out.

Thanks! Good sound advice. The "test release" concept is a good one....until she's ready.