Broody hen broody breaker??

[NewcoopNewpoop]

You tolerated her broodiness much longer than I do. Like @Ridgerunner , I don't like being deprived of eggs. Also, my gal tends to sit in the favored nestbox that all the others like to use. So out she goes.

No need to feel guilty. When you say she was desperate to get out of her cage, that's not entirely accurate. The only thing she's desperate for is to get back in the nestbox. Think of it as breaking an addiction by going "cold turkey." As far as her being "isolated" in the cage, she is no less isolated when she sits all day in the nestbox. But the sooner she's broken, the sooner she's out with the rest of the flock.

The 2 x 4 is fine, but if she's used to roosting at night, you may want to consider putting a roosting bar in the crate for her. It's going to take at least a couple days/nights in the cage.

Its our first broody hen, and we were well caught up on eggs. Nest box wasnt an issue, it is a double wide and she would share when another hen came in. Combination of factors... hopefully this will be over as soon as you say it will.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When I've had unwanted broodies in the past, I gave them a cooling belly bath when I took them off the nest before putting them in the breaker, and again at least once a day thereafter. I wish I could say it worked but what I had were three serial BO broodies. Ultimately they made good soup.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

You tolerated her broodiness much longer than I do. Like @Ridgerunner , I don't like being deprived of eggs. Also, my gal tends to sit in the favored nestbox that all the others like to use. So out she goes.

No need to feel guilty. When you say she was desperate to get out of her cage, that's not entirely accurate. The only thing she's desperate for is to get back in the nestbox. Think of it as breaking an addiction by going "cold turkey." As far as her being "isolated" in the cage, she is no less isolated when she sits all day in the nestbox. But the sooner she's broken, the sooner she's out with the rest of the flock.

The 2 x 4 is fine, but if she's used to roosting at night, you may want to consider putting a roosting bar in the crate for her. It's going to take at least a couple days/nights in the cage.

Roost bar installed. She appreciated it, thanks for the tip!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@NewcoopNewpoop, here's why. Year 1, Spring: they laid about 8 eggs then went broody. We gave them fertile eggs let them set. We got 8 live chicks, hawks got all but two; one was a cockerel. Then they molted then it was winter so no more eggs. Year 2, same thing. 8 eggs, let's go broody. I did battle with them all summer without much success, no more eggs. Then they molted, then it was winter, no eggs. Year 3: eight eggs, let's go broody .... no way. I'm done.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Last night I free-ranged Cloud with the rest of the group and kept the coop doors closed. She worried a bit about getting in but eventually got out and had a good time with the other ladies. At dusk she went back in her BB.
This morning she was eager to get out and I scooped up a cool chicken, which was promising, and put her in the fenced in yard with the other ladies. It's been almost an hour and she is still acting normal, not worried about the coop or nest box at all. Hopefully that does it for this round. I'll be checking on her frequently today. It's good to see them all together again.
Thanks to everyone for their help and advice.