Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

I have another question...
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I have another hen that has gone broody...'full on broody'. What is with these wyandottes?@! ..It is the black laced that are acting like this right now!! Driving me nuts!! We got 1 egg today so far...that is so depressing
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I am interested to know, no-I am desperate to know.....what any of you do to rectify this situation? I am NOT getting more chicks, so that is OUT....How would/do any of you go about "breaking" your broody hens. I have a few ideas, but want a few more. Does the length of segregation depend purely on that particular hen or is it a set-time? I have heard numerous opinions on this and gets a little confusing. Also, does the cage/area that the hen is in have to be completely dark? Does she get any time outside during this process? Any and all opinions and experiences in this matter is so much appreciated, thank you!-Danielle

For the first issue.... our broodies like to keep the chicks on the floor for the first 2 or 3 weeks at least, and although they do figure out the ramps I have noticed our meat birds are poorly balanced so they take much longer to figure out the ramps. Since the meaties will grow so fast I would go to WalMart and get a medium sized plastic storage container with a well fitting lid.... take it home and draw an arched door opening onto a side or end with a sharpie, with the door 'sill' being about 2" off of ground level. Cut it out with either a razor knife or a dremmel tool. Fill with bedding and place it in your run for the broody to use as a new nest. She can stay in it at night with the youngsters until she is ready to go back to the coop. This allows her a dry, safe nesting area with no ramp issues.

For broody breaking. The object is to keep their breast/belly area cool for a few days, this helps shut off the hormones... you can try a cool bath followed by a stay in an elevated wire bottom cage for a couple of days. The wire bottom cage ensures she can't snuggle down and get warmth built up under her belly.
Some folks do the cool bath and remove the hen daily from the coop and block access off from the coop, giving them treats frequently to keep them up and moving....but that isn't as practical when you have other hens needing to go in to egg in the boxes.
 
Things aren't going well for my chicken who was attacked by a fox Friday. She still lays in the corner all day and night and isn't injured. Now she's resisting when I try to force her to drink, so she might just die. The chicken appears to be in a trance, I'll stick a handful of food in it's face and occasionally she'll snap out of it but other times it just zones out
 
For the first issue.... our broodies like to keep the chicks on the floor for the first 2 or 3 weeks at least, and although they do figure out the ramps I have noticed our meat birds are poorly balanced so they take much longer to figure out the ramps. Since the meaties will grow so fast I would go to WalMart and get a medium sized plastic storage container with a well fitting lid.... take it home and draw an arched door opening onto a side or end with a sharpie, with the door 'sill' being about 2" off of ground level. Cut it out with either a razor knife or a dremmel tool. Fill with bedding and place it in your run for the broody to use as a new nest. She can stay in it at night with the youngsters until she is ready to go back to the coop. This allows her a dry, safe nesting area with no ramp issues.

For broody breaking. The object is to keep their breast/belly area cool for a few days, this helps shut off the hormones... you can try a cool bath followed by a stay in an elevated wire bottom cage for a couple of days. The wire bottom cage ensures she can't snuggle down and get warmth built up under her belly.
Some folks do the cool bath and remove the hen daily from the coop and block access off from the coop, giving them treats frequently to keep them up and moving....but that isn't as practical when you have other hens needing to go in to egg in the boxes.
Thank you so very much...I was thinking about a cold/cool sponge to place in the nest box...she has a "favorite" box, and doesn't let anyone else in it..so i figured it would be safe to do that. I have another option of putting her in a separate cage(dog crate)...will do the "sponge" thing first..then go from there.
I have dog crates!! I am going out right now to clean it out so I can set it out for them tonight!!
Thank you again...sometimes the answers are right there in front of you, but for whatever reason...just don't see it. Would not have thought of the tote thing, that led me to the dog crates!!
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..thank you!!! I owe you!!!
 
Things aren't going well for my chicken who was attacked by a fox Friday. She still lays in the corner all day and night and isn't injured. Now she's resisting when I try to force her to drink, so she might just die. The chicken appears to be in a trance, I'll stick a handful of food in it's face and occasionally she'll snap out of it but other times it just zones out
I am so sorry.
 
I have a question about my broody and what to do about her.
Hen-Bree has not been able to get the chicks into the coop at night. I have had to do this, by hand. The other day though, DH tried to help me...and she attacked him and the chick causing injury to two chicks...I have taken care of their issues, they are fine...but now..even when I go in to help put them to "bed"..she tries to attack me and the chick(s). I don't know what is happening, she never had issue before with me reaching in and picking them up..now she is extremely protective...VERY extreme!
It is going to rain and I am not looking forward to getting everyone into the coop, it causes so much stress for her and the chicks ..but they won't go in...should I just let them out there? They will get wet..Hen-Bree will go in and they will just stay out. I have thought about having DH hold her (Hen-Bree), while I put the chicks into the coop, but I know she will be ape-**-crazy...and I don't know how she will react after I put her in with them. I am truly at a loss ....****Any and all input to this situation is much appreciated! Thank You-Danielle

Purdy:

My two cents, but let broody take care of them...I have a crew who have decided to sleep outside the grow out pen...gives me angst, but they will roost .sometime.....
 

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