Separating a broody to cool her down

[puddleglumWI]

Hi all,

I have a broody hen, and I would like to get her out of it. I have read about putting them in a separate enclosure ,up off the ground, so they can't maintain their warmth, and that this will get them out of the broody phase. I have a dog crate that I could use for this, but my a-frame tractor is not big enough for the crate to be inside. I could set it up along side the tractor, with a feeder and waterer for her, and a a box tied in place so she has a wind break, but I wouldn't be able to leave her in it overnight, she would be too vulnerable.

I could move her to the crate when I find her brooding in a nesting box, have the crate along side the chicken tractor where she is still "part of the flock" and then put her back in at night.

Will she be bullied if she is separated from the flock for the better part of a day?

Will being cooled down and unable to nest for the better part of a day be enough to break her of her brooding, or will she be able to nest back down at night and I will just be wasting my time?

Thank you,
-pg

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can just try penning her away from her chosen nest site for 3-5 days. It isn't long enough to cause trouble putting her back generally. A crate in a garage or shed can work. I would just do the whole day to get it over quickly.

 

[azygous]

Some broodies will "break" after just one day, but it generally requires three days and two nights in a broody cage.

The reason for the cage is to make it faster. If you allow the hen to roam free or spend nights with the others on the roost, that interruption will reignite the hormones as she finds comfy spots to sit while the heat from her body is reflected back to her by the solid surface she is on.

The cage with an open mesh bottom allows air to circulate under the hen, lowering her body temperature, thus interrupting the broody hormones.

In my early days of keeping chickens, I didn't have adequate coop or run space for a broody cage, so I improvised. Whatever you come up with, it must:
1. Deprive the hen of getting to a nest
2. It must be secure from predators, overheating or freezing cold and wind. Food and water must be provided.
3. It must be able to allow air to freely circulate under the hen.
4. It must be large enough to accommodate the hen for three days and two nights and not deprive her of standing and moving around.
5. Ideally, the cage should be placed where there is maximum activity and light, depriving a broody of darkness and quiet which her hormones crave.

 

[puddleglumWI]

You can just try penning her away from her chosen nest site for 3-5 days. It isn't long enough to cause trouble putting her back generally. A crate in a garage or shed can work. I would just do the whole day to get it over quickly.

A day or two wouldn't put her in danger being reintroduced to the flock?

Inside the garage is a thought, then she wouldn't be in the wind or in danger from racoons at night.

 

[puddleglumWI]

5. Ideally, the cage should be placed where there is maximum activity and light, depriving a broody of darkness and quiet which her hormones crave.

Hmm. Maybe open the garage door during the day and have a radio going?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A day or two wouldn't put her in danger being reintroduced to the flock?

Inside the garage is a thought, then she wouldn't be in the wind or in danger from racoons at night.

Not in my experiences. I routinely pen my broody hens away from the flock for a few days without problems. I find them being broody is more disruptive.

 

[puddleglumWI]

Not in my experiences. I routinely pen my broody hens away from the flock for a few days without problems. I find them being broody is more disruptive.

This one is less vocal than the last broody I had, but pecks a lot more and harder.

All bite, and no growl.

 

[BDutch]

When its getting dark you can put her on a roost with the other chickens. In the morning after sunrise you can separate het again.

Reuniting is no problem within a couple of weeks when they see each other now and then.

I never used a crate, but I do separate broodies in a way she cant sit on her favourite nest-box anymore. I often close the entrance to 2 nest-boxes late afternoon and divide the run so the broody cant go back to the nest- box.