Newbie here and now I have a broody hen!

[Cryss]

I've done the same thing with a dog cage except after seeing Eggsmerelda's feet suffering I replaced the floor. The cage was raised a couple of inches from the ground and no bedding added. I shoved a branch through the holes to make a roost and provided food and water. After 3 days I let her out and she was broken from her broodiness. If it had been really hot I might have squirted some water on the g et ound UNDER the cage floor to keeo the area cool.

 

[aart]

I actually flipped the cage over to give her more support to walk on.

I add a 'roost' too.

I add a chunk of 2x4 on the floor to give a break to feet on wire floor

Guess I need a new pic to use with 2x4 showing.

I've done the same thing with a dog cage except after seeing Eggsmerelda's feet suffering I replaced the floor

If you look closely, you'll see I added 1x2 cage wire the the bottom of the crate, easier than flipping crate IMO. Might be able to see it more clearly here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[apryl29]

I add a 'roost' too.
Guess I need a new pic to use with 2x4 showing.


If you look closely, you'll see I added 1x2 cage wire the the bottom of the crate, easier than flipping crate IMO. Might be able to see it more clearly here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

Roost is a great idea.. I didn't think of that (duh).
Now that you pointed it out, I see the wire. I didn't have any wire that I could use, but that's a better idea for a more permanent broody breaker cage. I would love to keep the bottom tray in the cage to make it easier to clean up the poop and to keep her from having to stand it in. My cage is kind of stupid where there isn't a "floor" above the plastic tray, but having it raised I should be able to put the plastic tray under it. Thanks for the brilliant suggestions.
(for some reason, when I looked at your pic posted here I saw bricks under it, IDK why b/c now I can clearly see there's wood. smh)

 

[aart]

but having it raised I should be able to put the plastic tray under it.

Can just set the crate on top of the tray...
....see link to crate article, several pics of that there.
I have 4 of these crates, they are very handy.

 

[apryl29]

Can just set the crate on top of the tray...
....see link to crate article, several pics of that there.
I have 4 of these crates, they are very handy.

Your article is awesome. I'll have to do that next time I need to break someone (hopefully not for a long time!).

 

[cmom]

My experience goes like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
I add a chunk of 2x4 on the floor to give a break to feet on wire floor.
View attachment 1516796

I more or less do the same thing.

 

[brezbyme]

Thank you all. I happen to have a wire kennel, hardware cloth, wood and the stuff to build the feeder and waterer. Now I have work to do!

 

[brezbyme]

I was lucky for several broody girls but finally got Jezabell doing the broody thing. She is an ornery barred rock who is the smallest of my flock but the most daring. She would not break with the ice packs after a week so I have her in a 24"x18" crate with hardware cloth on the bottom, up on bricks with food and water. I don't know how long to leave her locked up so any advice is welcome.

 

[aart]

I don't know how long to leave her locked up so any advice is welcome.

Explained back in post #7

 

[brezbyme]

Explained back in post #7

Thanks!