Help with broody hen in "broody jail"

[lesliep6]

I have had my broody australorp in "broody jail" (a raised dog crate) for 5 days now. I remember reading that I should wait until she lays an egg before letting her out, but is 5 days a long time to wait? Should I let her out or wait longer? Your thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[so lucky]

I am not familiar with this method. Are you cooling her tummy?

 

[azygous]

Let the poor thing out! She shouldn't be broody after that long. Mine take three days MAX to un-broody.

Let her out and watch her. If she heads straight for the nest box and hunkers down, all fluffed and flattened flat into the nest, she's still broody. But my bet is she's broken by now.

As for laying, you can't expect an egg for at least a week, maybe longer, after she stops being broody. Whomever told you to keep her in broody-jail until she lays again is full of @#$%!