Trying to break a broody... will this baby coop/pen work?

[aart]

But have noticed they are shaking from day one

Have never seen, or noticed, this.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Have never seen, or noticed, this.

Really?!

I will have to pay attention to my LF next time I get one broody, ALL of my Silkies do it. I probably don't SEE it but can feel it when I am moving them out of their chosen lay box. I mean some young birds shake with fear when handling... but this is definitely broody related... even slightly intermittent at times. Like I say I used to think it was condition loss of the muscles from sitting for so long without moving. And it made me almost anti broody until I discovered it soo early on in the broody cycle... just thinking about WHY would one shake... and shivering as an involuntary way for the body to stay warmer is the only thing I can come up with that makes sense. Yep, once broken it's always gone.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't about confinement at all. It is about keeping the belly exposed to cool air. That breaks the hormone cycle. An elevated wire bottom cage is how broody hens have been broken for centuries.
We had about 4 cages hanging from the roof underside of the henhouse growing up.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Have never seen, or noticed, this.

I've never seen it either.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It isn't about confinement at all. It is about keeping the belly exposed to cool air. That breaks the hormone cycle. An elevated wire bottom cage is how broody hens have been broken for centuries.
We had about 4 cages hanging from the roof underside of the henhouse growing up.

So you could technically stick an ice pack under them without moving and be successful?

I understand... confinement without bedding is how we/I achieve the belly cooling.

But some birds won't sit at another location EVEN with bedding and their same clutch. So maybe it's partly a cumulative effect of both?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've never seen it either.

Really?!

You guys handle your broody's much?

I mean my birds have plenty of space and fed flock raiser with little to NO treats... And ONLY in my broody's.

 

[chickens really]

Really?!

You guys handle your broody's much?

I mean my birds have plenty of space and fed flock raiser with little to NO treats... And ONLY in my broody's.

I've never seen it either..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I certainly don't discount the 3 of you, all with tons of experience!

Is it possible all three of you just haven't noticed because I obsess about details and spend too much time among the flock? I haven't had any illness or issue among my flock. I get good hatches ALL the time. And ALL of my Silkies do it... so I have never been concerned before today/now. Maybe I should start a thread about it?

 

[aart]

You guys handle your broody's much?

At least every other day to take a peek under there and acclimate her to me handling her.
I've only let 2 set, but 1 was in the dead a frigid winter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So you could technically stick an ice pack under them without moving and be successful?

I understand... confinement without bedding is how we/I achieve the belly cooling.

But some birds won't sit at another location EVEN with bedding and their same clutch. So maybe it's partly a cumulative effect of both?

Technically, yes. But if they aren't broken by the time the ice pack warms up, you have to start over. I have used ice - with little consequence.
Besides personally having broody jails hanging in hen houses, I've seen hens in suspended cages all over the world. No ice packs necessary. When they get tired of sitting without being able to warm their bottoms, they give up. It is easily recognized.

Really?!

You guys handle your broody's much?

I mean my birds have plenty of space and fed flock raiser with little to NO treats... And ONLY in my broody's.

I don't handle them at all. They are very human phobic. They don't like being handled and I don't like stressing my birds out. I guess they are semi wild.
Usually a broody goes into a housing unit with food, water, fresh bedding, big ventilation and I go back in 3 weeks to count chicks.

I certainly don't discount the 3 of you, all with tons of experience!

Is it possible all three of you just haven't noticed because I obsess about details and spend too much time among the flock? I haven't had any illness or issue among my flock. I get good hatches ALL the time. And ALL of my Silkies do it... so I have never been concerned before today/now. Maybe I should start a thread about it?

I think you should start a thread. I'd like to read it.
I obsess about details too but in a different way than you. When a hen comes off the nest I observe her behavior closely but I don't touch her. I don't handle my chickens. I observe them every morning. If there are no issues, I close up at dusk and count them when they come out in the morning.
That said, the only contact I've ever had with silkies is observing a friend's birds.
Personally, I wouldn't own one nor any visually impaired bird again.