Help broody chook- What else can I try.

[febes]

One of my hens went broody about 4 days ago. I keep moving her off the nest and taking away the eggs. She has gone off the lay and feels warmer than usual. I tried putting her in a box with straw for 24 hours but she is still broody. The other 2 hens attack her too . What can I do??
They are being rehomed (to a lovely MNer)next weekend as we are moving to NZ so I can't get her a fertilised egg. I want her to be better before she moves too. Help.

bok bok bok

If you put her in a box with straw, it's just like moving the nest.

Put her in a 'broody cage', either a puppy crate, or a cat box with slatted lid. Make sure that the slats are UNDER her. Your aim is to cool her down and to make it less nest-like so that she snaps out of it, bless her. The broody cage needs to go up on a couple of bricks so that the cool air can circulate underneath her and cool her down.

Make sure that the broody cage is kept inside the secure run, or you've an easy meal for the fox - or put it in a cool, locked room overnight if you normally lock her in the hen house.

more info here: club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=14370

In theory to break a broody, you have to put her in a box where she can't sit comfortably. They say to use a box with a wire bottom. Have a look at poultrychat.com for more information.

I've never been able to do it; it seems such an awful thing to do. But a broody chook can make itself really poorly if it keeps sitting for ages; they just don't eat or drink unless you boot them off every day.

Good luck!

Thanks I'll try that. I don't have a wire cage but I'll ask around if anyone has a cat box. She is definately making herself ill, poor love!!

I thought the box with straw was too similar to her nest!!

She went in the cat box last night in the cool conservatory. This morning I let her out and she pottered around the garden for a good 2 hours and I thought she was better and then next thing I know it she was back on the nest!!!! Still broody!!!! I've put her back in the cat box for most of the day and tonight. Any other suggestions? Do I need to take her to the vet? Why do the other hens attack her?

when my hen went broody i lifted her off the nest first thing in the morning and shut the door to the house so she couldn't get back in until 10pm when i went to shut them away for the night.

did that for about 4 days and she just snapped out of it.

I have thought about closing the nest but where will the others lay their eggs???

bump

Hi febes, keep going. Can you keep her out of the nestbox but give the others access?

Then she can pootle around all day, but as she won't be laying it'll be ok if she doesn't go in the nest box. Can you section off part of their run with garden canes or chicken wire and confine her to that end?

Then cat box (no straw) overnight is good.

tbh, keep turfing her out to eat and drink and give this guidance to her new owners, they'll be able to deal with her, I'm sure. You have much to do with moving. She may be prone to broodiness, so telling the new owners about what to do will be an important part of her transition.

Ok I'll leave her in the garden and the others in the cage until they have laid and then they can all potter around the garden. Thanks, its making so stressed but I'll try to relax now and realise it could take awhile.

Don't worry febes, we will manage - i can always pinch some of DH's golf balls for her to sit on - they dont get used for anything else after all

see you next saturday!!!