Placement of broody-breaking cage

[colospgs]

When breaking a broody using a wire cage, is leaving the cage in the run the ideal place to do this? How about on a cold, windy day, cold windy night?

 

[NatJ]

When breaking a broody using a wire cage, is leaving the cage in the run the ideal place to do this? How about on a cold, windy day, cold windy night?

The ideal place will depend on things like your climate and weather, and also what places you have available to put the cage. A roofed run with a windbreak on several sides is very different from an open-topped run with no windbreak.

Use your best judgement about what it takes to keep the hen safe. It is good for her to be exposed to the rest of the flock, but it is more important that she be protected from dangerous weather. This could mean you move her and the cage to different places for day and night, or for one day vs. another day, or it could mean you find one place that works in all weather and leave her there until she is no longer broody.

For the cold, windy conditions you mention, I would try to put the broody somewhere not exposed to the wind. That might mean putting her & the cage into the coop or another building, or it might mean putting her in a particular place in the run (maybe were a wall of the coop can block the wind), or making some kind of a windbreak (maybe tarp or cardboard fastened securely to the fencing of the run.)

 

[aart]

When breaking a broody using a wire cage, is leaving the cage in the run the ideal place to do this? How about on a cold, windy day, cold windy night?

I keep mine inside the coop, where weather and preds don't have access.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My broody breakers sit outside in the run. If I'm using a dog crate I place it under a bit of cover, the structure on the left side. The cage fits perfectly underneath it.

Or I toss them in the brooder (right) and shut the door, works the same way.