Still Broody

[ThreeOfSeven]

I have 5 hens. (One is an older girl re-homed from a friend who lost her flock to a predator. Lucky is the only survivor.) My other 4 hens are about 2 years old, and this is my first broody. She went broody about 2 weeks ago and has been living in her broody crate with water, food, etc. since then. When I let her out after 3-4 days, she flaps her wings, stretches her legs, pecks a bit, and then it's back to the nesting box, displaying typical broody behavior. Since the broody box isn't changing her behavior, how long does this hormonal cycle last?

Thanks for your help, and now I have to perform a hen/nesting box extraction. <smile>

 

[Kwimmer78]

The best way to stop a broody chicken is to stop her from getting warm. I have a jersey giant that has brooded a couple times. I put her in an elevated cage so that when she sits down there is nothing under her stopping her heat from leaving. There is no definite length to these cycles, you just need to break her. If she is a cochin, wyandotte or jersey giant she is more inclined to brood, so be ready to go through this process a couple of times.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I put her in an elevated cage so that when she sits down there is nothing under her stopping her heat from leaving.

She's been in her elevated cage for almost 2 weeks, her broody crate. <sigh> She's a Partridge Rock.

 

[aart]

She's been in her elevated cage for almost 2 weeks, her broody crate. <sigh> She's a Partridge Rock.

Crate has a wire bottom?
..and is in the coop or....?

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Crate has a wire bottom?
..and is in the coop or....?

Modified dog crate, it has hardware cloth on the bottom, plus food and water. Crate is raised from floor with 4x4's. It's in the coop placed next to an open door for ventilation during the day. Location gets morning sun, but there's a big overhang. A screen keeps the flies and bugs off her. A door on the other side of the coop is left open during the day, so the breeze can flow through the coop. Plus 2 windows are open, so it's well ventilated.

Today she's looking more normal, not the overly-fluffed broody hen look. Giving her treats one or two times through the day -- yesterday some corn, this morning some watermelon. She eats a little bit of it.

 

[aart]

Modified dog crate, it has hardware cloth on the bottom, plus food and water. Crate is raised from floor with 4x4's. It's in the coop placed next to an open door for ventilation during the day. Location gets morning sun, but there's a big overhang. A screen keeps the flies and bugs off her. A door on the other side of the coop is left open during the day, so the breeze can flow through the coop. Plus 2 windows are open, so it's well ventilated.

Today she's looking more normal, not the overly-fluffed broody hen look. Giving her treats one or two times through the day -- yesterday some corn, this morning some watermelon. She eats a little bit of it.

So the whole crate is not wire? Might be too dark to work as quickly?
Or you girl might just be really stubborn...glad she appears to be 'unfluffing'.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

So the whole crate is not wire? Might be too dark to work as quickly?
Or you girl might just be really stubborn...glad she appears to be 'unfluffing'.

It's a wire dog crate. She has plenty of air and light. She's probably just *really* stubborn. <smile>

 

[nminusyplusm]

What kind of weather are you having? I just broke a stubborn broody after 8 days but the elevated wire cage wasn't working on its own since our temps were 104º to 109º and she was maintaining her broody body heat. After several cool water baths a day it finally worked.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

What kind of weather are you having? I just broke a stubborn broody after 8 days but the elevated wire cage wasn't working on its own since our temps were 104º to 109º and she was maintaining her broody body heat. After several cool water baths a day it finally worked.

Wow! Nothing like that. High 70s during the day, might hit 80, and cooling off to the 60s at night. It's been a cool spring/early summer. It's midday already and only about 67. The coop stays pretty cool. It's insulated and there are 2 big doors that stay open throughout the day plus 2 windows.

She's my first experience with a broody hen. She's been in her broody crate for 2 weeks. I think next time, if it looks like I have a stubborn broody, I'll have to try the cool water baths. She's starting to normalize now, so I think I'll avoid the wet-hen treatment for now. If she's still broody on Sunday, I might change my mind. <grin>