Broody chicken

[ChrisMath88]

Any advice? I can't really do the separate off and leave in a wire cage thing to let her underside cool off, lack of space and materials. I'm currently taking her out of the box every so often so she gets some food and water. All she does it take a couple of mouthfuls of food and water and then potters back in.... Once all my other chickens have laid I take her out and close the coop so she has to stay out at least then she eats and drinks normally. She started doing this Saturday and I'm back in work tomorrow so won't be able to keep throwing her out. Any suggestions? Thanks!


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[mothhawk]

When I kept bantams, I never tried to put them off being broody, because I believed it was good for them to have a rest from continual egg-laying (and pestering from the cockerel). I didn't let them sit on eggs, but never turfed them out either. They were such prolific layers (mongrels too, one and all) that even missing one hen's eggs for 2 or 3 weeks we still had more than we could use and regularly put them down in isinglass (dates me doesn't it?) for the winter months.

I love the way they go all dreamy when they're broody.

[ChrisMath88]

It's not the not getting eggs that bothers me it's the fact she isn't eating or drinking while she's sat there and she won't come off unless I move her :-/


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[mothhawk]

She doesn't need to eat or drink so much while she's broody. I think you'll find that left to herself she will get off once a day, often it's towards late afternoon, (seems to be then for most wild birds too, perhaps because the air has warmed so less risk of chilling eggs?) for a drink and quick bite to eat, and maybe a dust bath.

[Nicos]

She may take food from your hand whilst sitting...'every little helps' as they say.

Broodiness can last up to 6 weeks!

[buddy of maidstone]

One of my hens is broody at the mo,so I chucked some of my fertile duck eggs under her,hopefully they'll hatch this weekend she pops out quickly in the mornings for a bit of food and drink,I'm sure yours will be doing the same at some point,so don't worry she won't starve herself,I've also put a small tray of pellet/corn mix in the coop and a small waterer for her


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[Scarlet]

When I kept bantams, I never tried to put them off being broody, because I believed it was good for them to have a rest from continual egg-laying (and pestering from the cockerel).

They do have a rest - during the winter!

I don't like them sitting on nothing. If they aren't stopped some chickens will make theirselves ill through lack of food and water because they will sit for much longer than the 3 weeks it takes to hatch a brood. I had a Marian that would constantly be broody all summer if you didn't let her sit on eggs.

If you haven't got room for a small dog cage, you will just have to shut her out when you get in from work. Close the nest boxes up at night so that she doesn't sleep in them and when it's dark go in and make sure she is perching. Place her on her perch if she isn't, they usually won't move about in the dark so she should stay there. Give her treats, raisins to encourage her to eat. Good luck - it's not easy!

[Nicos]

I love to hatch our eggs , but you need to be prepared to cull the boys...or know someone who will do it for you!
Some local butchers would be able to help you out with that if nec!

[Scarlet]

My OH has had several people calling in to ask him to "do the deed" on the boys or a sick one . He does it, but he says he still remembers the first one he had to do. He found it very upsetting.

[ChrisMath88]

I'll keep throwing her off every so often then so she gets something in her. She's a speckeldy so a hybrid, hopefully that'll mean she won't be broody for long....


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[mothhawk]

If they aren't stopped some chickens will make theirselves ill through lack of food and water because they will sit for much longer than the 3 weeks it takes to hatch a brood.

Never had a bantie that sat without eggs for more than 26 days. It was also a lot easier to allow them to be broody on nothing in the henhouse, than search an acre and a half of hedge bottoms and shrubberies and nettle patches for illicit nests and a broody determined to sit out all night at risk from foxes or cats.

[Scarlet]

It was also a lot easier to allow them to be broody on nothing in the henhouse

That's the trouble though, if there are other chickens laying in the house and there's no one around during the day to remove them, they will just sit on those - much easier if there isn't any eggs about!
A cage works much the same as an empty nest box but in theory should work quicker as the air flow underneath cools them off, not so cosy as a nest box with less chance of them being sitting ducks for red mite. Food and water can be left in there as an encouragement too without the other chickens taking it.

[frias]

I'll keep throwing her off every so often then so she gets something in her. She's a speckeldy so a hybrid, hopefully that'll mean she won't be broody for long....


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I hate to say this but my speckeldy spends most of the summer broody.

[ChrisMath88]

Doh!


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[ChrisMath88]

My little white auracana has now joined my speckeldy in the best box being broody! It's like I only have three chickens now I never see the other two expect for the odd occasion they pop out for a quick drink and a nibble..... The other three had better not turn! It'll get cramped in there....