Help! Something is wrong with my chickens and I don’t know what!

[springvalley123]

Tractor supply has them. Or possibly a yard sale or thrift store. I saw where onen person turned the crate upside down so the bird was standing on the roof of the crate, which has bars every inch or so. I like the idea @aart showed in another thread, putting a 2x4 scrap in there for the bird to roost on and give their feet a break from the wire.

***ETA*** a link to aart's picture and another thread on breaking broodies:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/curing-hens-of-brooding.1529416/#post-25781697

 

[CharzTheChickenLover]

I just don’t know what to do. What would happen if I just left it and dint give them one of those?

 

[springvalley123]

I just don’t know what to do. What would happen if I just left it and dint give them one of those?

Worst case, where I am, it's hot out, and the hottest place is the nestbox. You need to break the broodies so they come out of the nestbox and get cooled off and hydrated. So the worst that could happen, and isn't so far fetched, is they die of heat by staying in the nestboxes.

 

[Presnell5]

I break mine with a wire cage but if you can’t find one I’ve heard of people dunking their bottoms in cold water....? Not suggesting that necessarily but if it’s hot enough outside and they won’t get chilled you can try it. When I let mine raise babies I put her water and food close so she can drink and eat while on the nest but like Springvalley said it’s really hard on their bodies to be broody. And it throws their egg production off

 

[CharzTheChickenLover]

Yes, thanks so much for your help. Quick update. I have been letting them out at the end of every day and pulling them out of the egg box. I haven’t done anything like a wire cage yet. When I let them out of the cage they eat and drink quite a lot but I still understand this isn’t enough during the day. It’s not that hot at the moment but it will get hotter. I’m not sure if I should dip them into cold water because I’ve seen that It will make them sick and apparently stop their heart. I do not want this to happen to my chickens, if you have any more tips please could you share them with me. thank you

 

[CharzTheChickenLover]

I’ve been looking round online and. I think what I’m going to try is I will put a frozen water bottle under them or maybe I will just shut them out of the laying area so they are forced outside so that they can eat and drink. Which do you think it’s a better idea?

 

[Presnell5]

I’ve been looking round online and. I think what I’m going to try is I will put a frozen water bottle under them or maybe I will just shut them out of the laying area so they are forced outside so that they can eat and drink. Which do you think it’s a better idea?

Yes for sure blocking the area will help. They are going to be mad as hec but should get over it in a few days.

 

[CharzTheChickenLover]

Ok thank you!

 

[SmiYa0126]

Ok thank you!

Now you know you can get fertile eggs from a local source when they go broody again