Tips on breaking broodiness

[Colorado Chick]

Ok, I'll see how the cage works, and if it is too stressful for them all, I'll try that

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As soon as my girl goes broody I remove her and all eggs from the nesting box. It was only a one day thing with my girl and as soon as she cooled off she went right back to her normal cheerful self. I tried putting her in a cage but this upset the whole flock. They're super sensitive and want to be together all of the time. I think as long as you remove her and deny her access to the coop she will stop trying. They won't go broody if there is no access to eggs. 

I have many hens that are happy sitting on nothing, eggs have nothing to do with triggering broodiness, it's a hormonal phase that has been bred out of a lot of breeds. The cage is the best and quickest way. If your hen broke in one day she wasn't actually broody.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

everyone but Bossy Cow is interested in the cage!

Great find, it is almost too perfect.

 

[aart]

I think the bottom of that cage is small enough mesh....I lined mine with 1x2 mesh (it was 4x4)....the poops will fall thru instead of being stepped on.
Just make sure whatever you use is smooth, sometimes HC can have lots of little tiny sharp points on it.

 

[Colorado Chick]

Thanks. Yeah, I know about the sharpness of hc, we use it regularly for other bird species and critters. I smoothed the edges before putting it in there. She sure was ready for me to leave!!!

 

[msazeeta]

She was broody twice for 2-3 days but it took me a couple days to notice that she was not leaving the coop and pulling out her feathers. Once I noticed and took her off and denied her access to the coop she went back to herself. I realize it's different for every bird

 

[Colorado Chick]

Great find, it is almost too perfect.

Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She was broody twice for 2-3 days but it took me a couple days to notice that she was not leaving the coop and pulling out her feathers. Once I noticed and took her off and denied her access to the coop she went back to herself. I realize it's different for every bird

Than you are very lucky, send the easy ones my way, I've been working on a particularly stubborn LF Cochin for a week now, I have resorted to putting her in with the young male roosters, who are keeping her from sitting, she is the worse hen ever to break, next time I may leave her setting. I did try giving her some eggs but she wouldn't set on them, just next to them so I can't even put her to work for me.

 

[aart]

. I've been working on a particularly stubborn LF Cochin for a week now, I have resorted to putting her in with the young male roosters, who are keeping her from sitting, she is the worse hen ever to break, next time I may leave her setting. I did try giving her some eggs but she wouldn't set on them, just next to them so I can't even put her to work for me.

That's odd<scratcheshead>....are you sure she's broody and not sick or something?
I've never heard of that before.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's odd....are you sure she's broody and not sick or something? I've never heard of that before.

Oh she's broody, she can still heat herself up pretty good sitting on a roost. She will probably be broke now thanks to the roosters, I had to use the same technique on her last year too. Must be all the feathers on her feet and legs as well as her tenacity.