welcome spring, welcome broody hens

[annierose]

Hi all!
It's spring and i've got two of my hens acting broody- i believe.

Silkie - 10 months old (approx)
Pylmouth barred rock- 9 months (approx)

Both sitting all day, all night in their spot. We've got the growling, fluffiness and pancake flatness. They've pulled out their belly feathers, the silkie has pulled out a lot!
Once my 3 hens have laid, I remove the two broody hens from the hen house and lock everyone out (food/grit/water available outside). When you move the broody hens outside and they sit in the spot for about 1-2 minutes. I'm a bit worried as my silkie will shakes/shivers (a little bit), when i move her outside and she stays seated- could it be because her belly has no feathers?

So how do I break this broodiness?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I use the broody breaker cage if I need to break a broody hen... Put them in a dog crate type of cage (airflow all round to cool them down) with food and water for a few days and nights (could try for 3 days/nights since they are pullets they may not take as long as a hen to break and it also depends on how long they have been broody for).. then let them out and if they go back to the nest box then put them back in the cage for another few days and nights. I'll see if I can post a pic up for you of my setup for an idea...

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I use the broody breaker cage if I need to break a broody hen... Put them in a dog crate type of cage (airflow all round to cool them down) with food and water for a few days and nights (could try for 3 days/nights since they are pullets they may not take as long as a hen to break and it also depends on how long they have been broody for).. then let them out and if they go back to the nest box then put them back in the cage for another few days and nights. I'll see if I can post a pic up for you of my setup for an idea...

 

[annierose]

I use the broody breaker cage if I need to break a broody hen... Put them in a dog crate type of cage (airflow all round to cool them down) with food and water for a few days and nights (could try for 3 days/nights since they are pullets they may not take as long as a hen to break and it also depends on how long they have been broody for).. then let them out and if they go back to the nest box then put them back in the cage for another few days and nights. I'll see if I can post a pic up for you of my setup for an idea...

thank you,

i've got a dog crate, similar to this but no metal bottom. do you think that could work with no bedding? Annoyingly i've got two so i can't put them in together!

They've been broody for about a week

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

You could try it with no bedding but it doesn't look like there is alot of airflow around the bottom area to help cool her down. The idea of the cage is to cool down her underside to stop the broody hormones. You could put 1 at a time in the cage. Maybe as they are pullets they might be easier to break with the cage you have -by changing their location and having no bedding. Could be a good investment in picking up a dog create type of cage, second hand maybe although they aren't too expensive new, they make a great cage for isolating a sick chicken too or backup coop / brooder or isolating new chickens.

 

[aart]

Put them in a dog crate type of cage (airflow all round to cool them down)

Add smaller wire to bottom of crate, or flip it upside down, and raise up off the ground.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Add smaller wire to bottom of crate, or flip it upside down, and raise up off the ground.
View attachment 2377413

I haven't raised mine off the ground.. I feel bad enough having to cage them! Poor thing only wants to be a mummy!! I let all my broodies hatch last spring since I got a rooster. I will look at putting wire on the bottom of my crate though. Breaking them would work well with your setup off the ground for better ventilation. Do you add a roost?

 

[aart]

Do you add a roost?

Yes, I toss a chunk of 2x4 on the floor....it's just not shown in that pic.
Here's one when it was a hospital crate for a hen with sour crop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If your crate was bigger you could put them in together, but you would definitely want to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't start quarreling due to all the hormones.

I don't use wire crates but I also break broodies immediately when they start showing signs, so that seems to make them easier to break.

 

[annierose]

UPDATE:

It's been 7 days since I posted and I now have 4 of my 5 chickens broody

I've had a silkie go broody within the last few hours and my sussex coronation went broody on Sunday morning.

The first two broody was I removing them from the hen house once the other girls had laid, close up the house.... but then they return at night.

Well now 4 out of the 5 are, i've closed off all nesting boxes and dark corners. Hen house will be locked - expect for the one laying.

the hens are not too impressed with
----
I know some may not approve, but desperate times trying to break the broodiness. I have place them in cool to normal temperature water for a minute or so. Doesn't appear to do anything.

Currently in lockdown so struggling to get a cage .