What should I do with my broody hen while we are away for 5 days?

[Flixflaxnoob]

We are going away for 5 days next week and my white rock is currently broody (for the second time this year!). Last time she went broody, I just took her out of the nesting box everyday in the afternoon until she stopped being broody (10 days). When she was locked out, she would be out with the other chickens most of the time, but may go to bed earlier.

Today is day 4 of her being broody and she will eat and drink when locked out of the nesting box, but will then just roost the rest of the day until I open the coop back up at dusk. I decided to put her in this smaller wire crate on top of our brooder hoping it will break her broody cycle but I'm not sure how to tell when it's worked. Assuming she remains broody when we leave, it would also be a simpler set up for our neighbor to deal with when collecting eggs. Would this be okay? Any other recommendations? I will also put a dish of feed in there with her. I'm also hoping it helps that she will be able to see our two new pullets. So she's not completely alone.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

We are going away for 5 days next week and my white rock is currently broody (for the second time this year!). Last time she went broody, I just took her out of the nesting box everyday in the afternoon until she stopped being broody (10 days). When she was locked out, she would be out with the other chickens most of the time, but may go to bed earlier.

Today is day 4 of her being broody and she will eat and drink when locked out of the nesting box, but will then just roost the rest of the day until I open the coop back up at dusk. I decided to put her in this smaller wire crate on top of our brooder hoping it will break her broody cycle but I'm not sure how to tell when it's worked. Assuming she remains broody when we leave, it would also be a simpler set up for our neighbor to deal with when collecting eggs. Would this be okay? Any other recommendations? I will also put a dish of feed in there with her. I'm also hoping it helps that she will be able to see our two new pullets. So she's not completely alone.
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She also doesn't seem broody in this crate. She hasn't settled, which I guess makes sense, but making me question if i should be doing this method at all.

 

[DobieLover]

Putting her in the crate, AKA - broody breaker, is the best way to break her broodiness. Leave her in there for 3 days and 3 nights with did and water and she should break. When are you leaving?

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

Putting her in the crate, AKA - broody breaker, is the best way to break her broodiness. Leave her in there for 3 days and 3 nights with did and water and she should break. When are you leaving?

Leaving in 5 days.

 

[DobieLover]

Leaving in 5 days.

She should break before you leave. Take her out about an hour before roost time 3 days from now and see what she does. You should find her on the roost when you do lock up. If she's gone back to a nest box, put her back in the crate and try again the next night.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

She should break before you leave. Take her out about an hour before roost time 3 days from now and see what she does. You should find her on the roost when you do lock up. If she's gone back to a nest box, put her back in the crate and try again the next night.

So the broody hen was always bottom of the pecking order. I was a little worried about separating her because of this but I gave it a shot anyway. I let her out of broody jail after 3 days. She's been foraging with the others and two of them keep chasing her away from the coop! A very small part of me is glad because she can't get into the nesting box, but what about at night? We're going out of town tomorrow. I don't know what to do

 

[DobieLover]

but what about at night?

They can't chase her out of the coop once they're roosted correct? How large is your coop?

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

I have a small prefab for the four hens. I actually just got a larger coop delivered but it's not move-in ready yet. Right now they're all free ranging and I saw her being chased away from the coop and kennel/run, where the food and water are.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

Okay. Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion and it will be fine. There are multiple food and water sources available and I saw she eventually made her way to some feed. The hens won't be able to free range while we're gone for a few days but they have a big enough run and a chunnel.