Is this broody box sufficient?

[Contolini6]

IMG_5354

• Contolini6
• Jun 2, 2018

The infuriating bird herself... Lucy (aka the dinosaur)

IMG_5345

• Contolini6
• Jun 2, 2018

Side view. It's made out of wood scraps, some hardware cloth, and is resting on a wooden pallet.

IMG_5344

• Contolini6
• Jun 2, 2018

Top view
One of our hens, a gray rumpless Araucana named Lucy, has been broody for about a month and a half. We decided to keep her out of the nesting box and just wait it out for the three weeks to see if she got over it on her own. Needless to say, she didn't, so, being cheap chicken keepers that we are, my brother built a very rough broody box that we have been using to varying degrees for the last couple weeks. And Lucy is still broody as ever. Fluffs up all her feathers, walks around making a very annoying clucking noise, rushes to sit in the nest box whenever we open the coop, the whole nine yards. Needless to say we would really like to get her back to laying as we only have a flock of four, and two of our other birds are not quite laying yet.
Wanted to ask if you more experienced folks find this broody box sufficient. Are we just not committing to imprisoning her enough? (We all feel bad about keeping her locked up all day). Should she stay in there at night, too? Do we need to improve the broody box? Do we need to do something else? Any advice would be very appreciated!

 

[SpeckledSussex2005]

We cannot see the broody box, because the link doesn't work. Try taking a picture and pressing, "upload a file" on the feply box. Right below "post reply".

 

[Kiki]

Go back to the album you uploaded these photos to and double check the permissions on the album.
Looks like this:

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not sure about the top on that, that's wire? How big are the openings? Just concerned that she might try to put her head out and get stuck. It also doesn't look like it can lock down securely.

 

[chickens really]

Elevated higher and a better top..

 

[Contolini6]

Yes, currently the top is a piece of 2x3 inch wire fencing. I’m not sure if we have any of the smaller stuff around. We’ve been bending it over the edges of the box and she hasn’t tried to escape. But it’s definitely pretty weak; I’ll see what I can do to improve it.

How much higher should we elevate it? Does it need to be any taller if she can’t stand up all the way in it?

 

[chickens really]

Yes, currently the top is 2x3 inch wire fencing. I’m not sure if we have any of the smaller stuff around. We’ve been bending it over the edges of the box and she hasn’t tried to escape. But it’s def

How much higher should we elevate it? Does it need to be any taller? She can’t stand up all the way in it.

Not good to keep her in that..She needs to be able to stand and eat and drink.

 

[Contolini6]

We put food and water in with her when she’s in there. Taller I can do. Does she need to be kept in a separate place from the others?

 

[chickens really]

We put food and water in with her when she’s in there. Taller I can do. Does she need to be kept in a separate place from the others?

No..She already is separated in that Box..

 

[redranger209]

Why not let her hatch you some chicks? By far the best way to get a girl off of eggs.