Problem with a broody

[mymilliefleur]

I think that will work. all of my cages are outside next to our barn. you just want to cover it with feed sacks or some thing so she doesn't get wet.

 

[aart]

If it's predator proof and weather proof, I guess you could.
Not sure where you're located.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

If it's predator proof and weather proof, I guess you could.
Not sure where you're located.

She has been in there for about an hour and a half now. Nothing bad to report. My other hens are even over there talking to her!

 

[krista74]

There is no reason you can't use the cage outside the run, but it needs to be able to be raised off the ground in order for the cool air to be able to get under her. Simply isolating her is not effective if she has the means to make an impromptu nest in there too! So, if that cage is (a) Raised off the ground (b) Predator proof (c) Contains no bedding at all and (d) Has a simple wire base - it's perfect.

If not, you can buy small dog cages and rabbit hutches from what I call The Cheapo Stores. I presume you have stores like this in the US, they are like $2 shops or Bargain Basements? Anyway, I got mine for $50 which was not too bad. It has certainly been used enough times to justify the expense! And the best part is that it easily fits into the run.

It's amazing how fast Broodies do adapt to the cage. My other girls used to go and 'visit' beside the Broody Buster too. At first it was out of curiosity - "Wow! What are you doing in there!?" - but then they all came to accept that Broody just lived in the cage now, and they could still visit with her just fine. They all used to sit around beside the cage as if they were at the water cooler at the office!

Even when I let her out once a day to 'see if she was improving' she still didn't mind being put back in the cage. She never struggled, never protested about it. I'd just gently pop her back in (usually saying "Back in the cage with you!") and she would just wander across to the feed station and go about her business in the cage. I also liked to put in the occasional tomato or a banana as a treat - it helped alleviate the boredom that after 6 days she must have been feeling a little. It really seemed to help.

- Krista

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I know the weather probably isn't quite permitting, but this summer I used a cool bath to break a broody. She was relentless. I had to do it twice, but I just dunked her in the tub with cool (not super cold) water for a few seconds and put her right back out.

Hope your cage method works out for you.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

There is no reason you can't use the cage outside the run, but it needs to be able to be raised off the ground in order for the cool air to be able to get under her. Simply isolating her is not effective if she has the means to make an impromptu nest in there too! So, if that cage is (a) Raised off the ground (b) Predator proof (c) Contains no bedding at all and (d) Has a simple wire base - it's perfect.

If not, you can buy small dog cages and rabbit hutches from what I call The Cheapo Stores. I presume you have stores like this in the US, they are like $2 shops or Bargain Basements? Anyway, I got mine for $50 which was not too bad. It has certainly been used enough times to justify the expense! And the best part is that it easily fits into the run.

It's amazing how fast Broodies do adapt to the cage. My other girls used to go and 'visit' beside the Broody Buster too. At first it was out of curiosity - "Wow! What are you doing in there!?" - but then they all came to accept that Broody just lived in the cage now, and they could still visit with her just fine. They all used to sit around beside the cage as if they were at the water cooler at the office!

Even when I let her out once a day to 'see if she was improving' she still didn't mind being put back in the cage. She never struggled, never protested about it. I'd just gently pop her back in (usually saying "Back in the cage with you!") and she would just wander across to the feed station and go about her business in the cage. I also liked to put in the occasional tomato or a banana as a treat - it helped alleviate the boredom that after 6 days she must have been feeling a little. It really seemed to help.

- Krista

The cage I'm using isn't raised off the ground but has huge holes in the bottom and is positioned on cold ground. It's kind of predator proof and has NO bedding. Would a cold bath work? I've heard that is effective?

I know the weather probably isn't quite permitting, but this summer I used a cool bath to break a broody. She was relentless. I had to do it twice, but I just dunked her in the tub with cool (not super cold) water for a few seconds and put her right back out.

Hope your cage method works out for you.

Thanks!

Me too!

 

[krista74]

Apparently a cold bath does work, BUT that being said, I'm not a fan of that method myself. I am a huge animal lover, and to sit a bird in cold water, especially in cold weather, seems unnecessarily cruel to me. I may well spark a storm in a teacup with that opinion, as I'm sure there are people who swear by that method, but it's just a matter of personal choice and I don't like to do it.

I'm not sure if a cage not raised off the ground will work as effectively. The only reason I say that is because I have known broody hens who will simply hunker down on bare soil and 'nest,' such is the strength of those broody hormones. I'm not suggesting it definitely won't work and there is certainly no harm in trying, but I would suggest that if there are no signs of improvement after a couple of days, maybe ask around and see if someone has a dog crate you might be able to borrow. The physical sensation of having a stiff cool breeze passing under their little fuzzy butts literally cools them and their hormones off!

Good luck with it - and be persistent. Just when you think "This is never going to work" they often come good, but as I said it can take several days, and up to a week if they are super-broody!

- Krista

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Apparently a cold bath does work, BUT that being said, I'm not a fan of that method myself. I am a huge animal lover, and to sit a bird in cold water for 20 minutes, especially in cold weather, seems unnecessarily cruel to me. I may well spark a storm in a teacup with that opinion, as I'm sure there are people who swear by that method, but it's just a matter of personal principle that I don't do it.

I'm not sure if a cage not raised off the ground will work as effectively. The only reason I say that is because I have known broody hens who will simply hunker down on bare soil and 'nest,' such is the strength of those broody hormones. I'm not suggesting it definitely won't work and there is certainly no harm in trying, but I would suggest that if there are no signs of improvement after a couple of days, maybe ask around and see if someone has a dog crate you might be able to borrow. The physical sensation of having a stiff cool breeze passing under their little fuzzy butts literally cools them and their hormones off!

Good luck with it - and be persistent. Just when you think "This is never going to work" they often come good, but as I said it can take several days, and up to a week if they are super-broody!

- Krista

Thank you for all your info!! I'll try raising it then. And yes, I have always thought the bath is cruel too.

 

[krista74]

I know the weather probably isn't quite permitting, but this summer I used a cool bath to break a broody. She was relentless. I had to do it twice, but I just dunked her in the tub with cool (not super cold) water for a few seconds and put her right back out.

I would imagine in Summer it would not be entirely unpleasant for them! They might happily have a cool bath then! I hope you don't take offence to my opinion (above) - my concerns are more surrounding doing the cold water bath method during the colder months

- Krista

 

[BayBay Peepers]

It could go both ways. I personally think sitting in a wire cage for days is kind of cruel. It's not cold water just cool to the touch and I only had to do it for about 10 seconds...twice. Which is more cruel? Days on wire or a few seconds in cool water?