Help breaking broody

[SCMommaHen]

My little svarthona has gone broody at the ripe age of 27 weeks. She hasn't been laying that long so I was slow to realize this. Today is her 3rd day and I'm trying to figure out what to do. I wouldn't have a problem putting her in broody jail. But it will drop in the 20s in a couple days and I don't want to leave her out in that. I can't close her out of the coop for fear the other layers will go mad not being able to get in.

She's made her nest on the floor of the coop in the shavings. What if I removed all the floor shavings? Will she just move to a nest box? Ideas?

 

[DobieLover]

My little svarthona has gone broody at the ripe age of 27 weeks. She hasn't been laying that long so I was slow to realize this. Today is her 3rd day and I'm trying to figure out what to do. I wouldn't have a problem putting her in broody jail. But it will drop in the 20s in a couple days and I don't want to leave her out in that. I can't close her out of the coop for fear the other layers will go mad not being able to get in.

She's made her nest on the floor of the coop in the shavings. What if I removed all the floor shavings? Will she just move to a nest box? Ideas?

Pictures of the coop and run will help.
If you cannot put her in an elevated wire dog crate inside the coop, can you put her in a secure garage or shed for the nights and put the crate in the run during the day?

 

[SCMommaHen]

Pictures of the coop and run will help.
If you cannot put her in an elevated wire dog crate inside the coop, can you put her in a secure garage or shed for the nights and put the crate in the run during the day?

I was thinking that right after I posted. I have an animal trap I can put her in and carry her in and out of the garage. The coop is much too small. Here's a pic with an opossum I've been trying to trap.

 

[Aunt Angus]

If you can bring her in at night, that's what I would try, too. I have discovered that getting them away from the coop/nests seems to break them faster, too - especially those super stubborn hens.

And I'm sooooo jealous that you have a svarthona! I've always wanted one, but no one out here has them, and hatching eggs makes me nervous. I best she's pretty!!!

 

[SCMommaHen]

She is a ball of fire! Sweet and independent and will chase a wild rabbit or squirrel off if spotted! She's much smaller than I thought she would be, slightly larger than bantam size. And she runs an over exaggerated one foot in front of the other like models walk so she was named Cindy Crawford lol.

Thanks I had planned on keeping the cage at the coop but I'll put it at the deck where they hang out during the day.

 

[Aunt Angus]

She is a ball of fire! Sweet and independent and will chase a wild rabbit or squirrel off if spotted! She's much smaller than I thought she would be, slightly larger than bantam size. And she runs an over exaggerated one foot in front of the other like models walk so she was named Cindy Crawford lol. View attachment 2886642
Thanks I had planned on keeping the cage at the coop but I'll put it at the deck where they hang out during the day.

You can actually feel the sass coming through that pic! I love it! Cindy Crawford - great name!

 

[SCMommaHen]

You can actually feel the sass coming through that pic! I love it! Cindy Crawford - great name!

So she was tossed in the slammer yesterday morning and she did well in the garage last night. She had a lot to say about her accomodations not being to her standards. How long do you think she should be sentenced? 3 days?

 

[aart]

How long do you think she should be sentenced? 3 days?

Good place to start, you'll have to 'play it by eye'.
This is what I do....
After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken, gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.