My Broody Light Brahma

[foweler]

She's driving me crazy!

I just want her to go back to being a normal chicken. OK, I guess that's what she is doing but... I want eggs!!!

She's sitting on the bed next to me right now. I've been bringing her in and handing her a lot trying to get her mind off of setting. Every time I go into the other room and come back she lifts her tail and does the broody thing when I return.

Darn chicken! She's playing me!!!

She has plucked her belly bald too!

But I must say she is being a particularly good pet chicken at the moment, which is why I chose the breed. I really love this bird!

I'm considering building a broody-breaking cage for her (wire bottom, food,water and no friends), especially if this is going to happen frequently, but I'd rather not let it come to that if I don't have to. I'm just afraid there's no other way.

 

[Malpower]

Don't know if you've run across the thread of posts concerning my own broody Brahma, but if not, check it out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=217779

I got loads of good advice, and as you will see -- I went with the wire cage just this week, about $24 for a large wire bird cage -- and it worked beautifully -- I was also hesitant to use it but it turned out to be very easy! Also, there was a great suggestion just today to use ice packs in the nesting box -- I'll have to try that next time as I'm SURE there will be a next time. I think Brahmas tend to be one of the broodier breeds from what I just found out.

That looks horrid where she's plucked her belly -- yikes! Poor girl!

Good luck!

 

[foweler]

I've been checking out all of the recent broody posts but somehow I missed that one.

Reading it now.

I mainly wanted to post pictures of the bald belly as I have read many posts about them plucking themselves bald.

Well, and to show off my pretty chicken of course!

 

[foweler]

Good read! I appreciate the detailed account of your experience. I'm glad she came out of it.

I tried ice cubes last week but she just sat there shivering on them so I pulled them out.

I'm off to buy a big bird cage this morning.

 

[Malpower]

I looked at dog crates first, but the wire bird cage seemed to better fit what everyone was describing. It has two thin wooden perches which I adjusted to be side-by-side to better accommodate BIG bird feet and I kept them close to the ground cuz they kind of wavered a bit with Baby perched on them when they were higher. She could sort of sit/stand. I have to reiterate how surprised I was at how well the cage worked and she wasn't all that put out. I was able to fit it into the outer cage/yard of the small coop at night so she got locked in safely. It worked soooo well! And sooooo fast, too!

Good luck!
Kerry

 

[Brindlebtch]

She really is lovely and sweet. I could see why she would make such a good pet chicken.

 

[KinderKorner]

I LOVE my broody brahams. I currently have two. That shared a nest, but none of their eggs hatched due to problems that werne't their fault. So I gave them 3 chicks I hatched. And they love them. One mother takes the most care of them, but when they go outside the other ones helps watch them.

I don't see why you just don't let her sit on some eggs? After they hatch and grow up some she would go back to laying.

 

[foweler]

I have no fertile eggs and I can't have any more chickens anyway. I'm on a really small lot. I hate the thought of having to re home too, I believe taking a pet is a commitment. If I knew someone who needed a surrogate....well maybe. Someday I hope to have more land and more chickens.

I went out in search of a bird cage and everything I looked at had a solid bottom. I considered using it upside down but I couldn't bring myself to pay $50 for something I had to modify so I headed to the home store and bought a bunch of pvc stuff to build a cage frame that I could cover in wire I already have.

By the time I got home she was out wandering around the yard. It almost looks like she might be over it. Here's hoping

None too soon either, she plucked a bunch more of her belly feather out either last night or this morning. She doesn't have much left on her undercarriage.

I'll build the cage anyway for next time.


Thanks, she is very pretty, that's why I wanted to show her off

Her temperament has greatly improved with the broodiness. I hope it lasts.

 

[Malpower]

Too bad you couldn't find the big bird cage, I got mine at the feed store. But probably even cheaper to build one yourself.

Yes, yours is a pretty girl -- I think they're a very pretty breed and I'm very fond of my Brahma too, she's very sweet and mellow -- we won't tell the other hens that she just might be my favorite -- while she was broody we "bonded" too!

I hope your girl stops plucking those feathers -- has anyone had any suggestions about that? Is there anything one can do?

 

[gritsar]

SEND HER TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll introduce her to my dark brahma roo and give her something to be broody about!

*heavy sigh* another broody brahma. Think I'll go cry myself to sleep.