The Broody Jail

[BellaBlueBell]

This is new to me.

So I set up a hutch outside their coop/pen. Of course, she's not happy. But I noticed the other chickens don't want to come into that area - they normally spend much of the day there.

Is it ok that the jail faces the coop and she can see and be seen?

Also, I had her in jail today for several hours and then let her out into the yard with the other girls to forage. When she headed toward the coop after about an hour out, I put her back in jail. I plan on putting her on the roost in the coop after dark so she can stay with her flock. I'll block the nesting box. Is all this ok? Can a broody spend some time outside of jail and then go back in or must it be continuous until she breaks?

Thanks!!

 

[Debbie292d]

Can you put it in the coop where she's secured at night but remains in jail?

I was doing that too, hauling the broodies to their jail every morning, then putting them back in the coop at night. That's not as efficient.

I moved ours to our breeding coop so she stays in there 24/7 and after 3-4 days she's broke. The breeding pens are across from her so they can see each other and it doesn't matter. We try keep the lights on in there during the day to brighten it up as that helps too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I had her in jail today for several hours and then let her out into the yard with the other girls to forage. When she headed toward the coop after about an hour out, I put her back in jail. I plan on putting her on the roost in the coop after dark so she can stay with her flock. I'll block the nesting box. Is all this ok? Can a broody spend some time outside of jail and then go back in or must it be continuous until she breaks?

You can do it that way but it may take longer to break since she'll likely sneak into the nest box before you're up to lock her back up the next morning.

If "jail" is in a safe location I'd leave her in there around the clock, or if you want to give her a little time to stretch her legs, I'd put her back in right after.

 

[SkyAJK]

My recent broody hen, I let her out in the general garden all day, she did not have access to the nest box, at night I put her in a dog carry box to sleep as she was very irritated due to her broodiness.

It was last Sunday this started, last night she pooped in the her sleep area & She also no longer puff up aggressively.

But with my other hens, it took a few weeks.

My set up is that they all have access to the nestbox, thus I must let her out in the general garden instead of the chicken areas.

The first few days, she was very edgy, puff up and running around trying to access the nest box, then at time busy digging my garden, so it is sort of distracted her mission.

 

[Virginiachickens]

Hi All,
Here is our setup for Broody Jail. She has been broody for over a month and I was so busy with other stuff I just let her do it but now really need/want her to come back to the other side. Does this look OK?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hi All,
Here is our setup for Broody Jail. She has been broody for over a month and I was so busy with other stuff I just let her do it but now really need/want her to come back to the other side. Does this look OK?
View attachment 4143656

Hard to see in the photo but I assume there's some of the smaller grid wire on the bottom of that cage? Or is it just slats? Should be fine as long as she doesn't have trouble standing on the floor, whichever it is.

 

[Virginiachickens]

Hard to see in the photo but I assume there's some of the smaller grid wire on the bottom of that cage? Or is it just slats? Should be fine as long as she doesn't have trouble standing on the floor, whichever it is.

It is just slats but she has the piece of wood that she primarily stands on. I could add another layer of metal grid if needed? She seems to maneuver OK. Making sure she has water and food at all times. She slept out there last night, it is safe for her to do that here. We are going to do this for 3 days/nights.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It is just slats but she has the piece of wood that she primarily stands on. I could add another layer of metal grid if needed? She seems to maneuver OK. Making sure she has water and food at all times. She slept out there last night, it is safe for her to do that here. We are going to do this for 3 days/nights.

Sounds good then, just hard to see in the photo what she was standing on. As long as her feet aren't slipping through then it'll suffice for the few days she'll be in there.