Bckpkrs
Chirping
- Apr 18, 2020
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In another thread someone mentioned that all hens eventually stop being broody- to wit, my response: "Oh yeah... When?"
Whaddya do when one of your gals turns broody, stays that way for seven weeks straight and still going, and you don't want chicks?
Flock of three. 1.5 y.o. Cuckoo (her name) Marans was broody about 4 times last year - which was our first year w/ chickens. (Yes, we're one of those, but we took to having chickens right away.)
She's put in jail, wire dog crate, elevated with her own food and water, in the shade under our redwoods. Let out at for a few hours toward sunset while we garden/relax. Often during that time, we have to lock her out of the coop once we know our other two hens won't be using the nest box.
I'm convinced the hot weather sets her off and our heat waves roll thru every 10-14 days, and she just goes toward 22 days and then the broody reset button gets set...
... and summer is just starting.
Any thoughts on how to help our girl
So far, the only thing I haven't done is strap an ice pack on ber breast. The one other factor is she does spend the night in the coop since we have rats, possums, cats, and racoons... none of which we want staring a chicken fight below our bedroom window.
Any thoughts on how to get this gal over her stuck-in-broody-mode or shed light on how long can a chronic case of the broody bug last?
Whaddya do when one of your gals turns broody, stays that way for seven weeks straight and still going, and you don't want chicks?
Flock of three. 1.5 y.o. Cuckoo (her name) Marans was broody about 4 times last year - which was our first year w/ chickens. (Yes, we're one of those, but we took to having chickens right away.)
She's put in jail, wire dog crate, elevated with her own food and water, in the shade under our redwoods. Let out at for a few hours toward sunset while we garden/relax. Often during that time, we have to lock her out of the coop once we know our other two hens won't be using the nest box.
I'm convinced the hot weather sets her off and our heat waves roll thru every 10-14 days, and she just goes toward 22 days and then the broody reset button gets set...
... and summer is just starting.
Any thoughts on how to help our girl
So far, the only thing I haven't done is strap an ice pack on ber breast. The one other factor is she does spend the night in the coop since we have rats, possums, cats, and racoons... none of which we want staring a chicken fight below our bedroom window.
Any thoughts on how to get this gal over her stuck-in-broody-mode or shed light on how long can a chronic case of the broody bug last?