STILL broody

[Auntie Moose]

My about 12 month old BO hen is STILL broody. I've tried everything, but she's even blocking the other two hens from the box. I've thrown her out repeatedly, and utilized the chicken jail (cage), and nothing has worked. I checked for a stuck egg--nothing. Checked for parasites--nothing. She and one of the other girls have both pecked off feathers from each other and themselves, but I think it's a dominance thing. She was laying fine, an egg a day since February, and now has not produced an egg in over 2 weeks. She will go out to free range, take a dirt bath, eat scratch from my hand and is generally happy. So what do I do now?

 

[Kiki]

How long was she in jail?

 

[Auntie Moose]

How long was she in jail?

Three days. Then we had a freak spring snow storm and I thought she and the other girls should huddle for body warmth. Then I put her in again for two days, she seemed better, but starting sitting again the next morning.

 

[Auntie Moose]

I hate leaving her outside in the cage at night! The other girls were all crowded around the door, waiting for her to come to go to bed.

 

[Kiki]

Move the cage inside...in a dark quiet room/area.

 

[BullChick]

Is the cage an open/wire bottom? Letting her have a solid bottom isn't going to allow air to cool her underside.

 

[Pork Pie]

As M/chick says, the "jail" needs to allow air to circulate. I personally do not advocate putting broodies in quiet, dark places, but I put them where there is as much action as possible.

I'd say its gonna be a case of tough love. Repeat and keep her in jail until you break her. You could, of course keep her in a crate, in the coop (if that's feasible).

 

[Auntie Moose]

Is the cage an open/wire bottom? Letting her have a solid bottom isn't going to allow air to cool her underside.

Yes, it is a wire bottom and is on blocks so it's about 6" off the ground.

 

[Auntie Moose]

As M/chick says, the "jail" needs to allow air to circulate. I personally do not advocate putting broodies in quiet, dark places, but I put them where there is as much action as possible.

I'd say its gonna be a case of tough love. Repeat and keep her in jail until you break her. You could, of course keep her in a crate, in the coop (if that's feasible).

The cage is wire and blocked up off the ground. I am getting conflicting advice about whether to keep her near the coop (coop too small for the cage) and the action or to keep her inside away from the others. I'm leaning towards keeping her near the coop, so the others can see her. They seem to like to come check her out. Maybe they are pointing and laughing, for all I know!

 

[Pork Pie]

The cage is wire and blocked up off the ground. I am getting conflicting advice about whether to keep her near the coop (coop too small for the cage) and the action or to keep her inside away from the others. I'm leaning towards keeping her near the coop, so the others can see her. They seem to like to come check her out. Maybe they are pointing and laughing, for all I know!

There's no right or wrong - do what you feel is best