How Long Should Bubbles Stay In Broody Jail?

[kbroom]

A couple days ago, via the advice of a much more savvy chicken mom than I am, I placed Bubbles, my wayward brook chicken into Broody jail. She has food and water, of course. It's starting to get cold here in South Texas, and instead of snow, we usually get rain here. I've covered her cage with a quilt and a tarp, so that we won't get cold or wet. I don't like doing this, but I must break her brooding routine some way. I'm wondering if anyone out there has a handle on how long a brooding bird should be confined? Tomorrow will be day three for her. I've decided on a wait and see approach. I'm trying to help this along before it gets too cold here, and then she can join her sisters in the heated inner coup at night. After tomorrow, I've decided to turn her loose again. If she heads for the nest they've made in the garage, I'll try confining her again, for another three days. Also, at the present, my other Easter Eggers have joined her in NOT laying any more eggs. I'm thinking conspiracy. Does anyone know anything about this. Uh..besides the birds, I mean. Thanks for any advice.

 

[rosemarythyme]

2-3 days is typical but more determined broodies may take longer. You'll know if she's broken if she doesn't head back to the nest box... don't expect her to necessarily beeline for it either. If you find her in there an hour later, half a day later, then put her in "jail" another 24 hours before trying again.

 

[kbroom]

Thank you so much. This is my first experience with this, and I'm trying to stay on top of it, so to speak. I have another question, if you're familiar with Easter Eggers. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if it's the breed of birds, but now it seems that all three of my Easter Eggers have stopped laying all together? Maybe it's natural for these birds, or they're feeling sympathy for their "jailed" sister???

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you so much. This is my first experience with this, and I'm trying to stay on top of it, so to speak. I have another question, if you're familiar with Easter Eggers. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if it's the breed of birds, but now it seems that all three of my Easter Eggers have stopped laying all together? Maybe it's natural for these birds, or they're feeling sympathy for their "jailed" sister???

How old are the EEs? If under a year it's most likely coincidence, or if Bubbles was raising heck while broody and out and about, possibly a stress reaction if she was causing enough unrest.

If the EEs are over a year then you're more likely looking at annual molt being the cause.

 

[Ingrid_Grace]

I think It depends on the hen, I had one hen that I needed to keep putting back in for around 2 weeks about 3 days at a time because she wouldn't break . I felt so bad I almost bought eggs for her to hatch but she eventually did stop.

Normally it only takes a day or 2 for me. I haven't had too many instances where I actually have to break a broody hen though. for me they normally quit after a few days but obviously it depends on the chicken <3

 

[BDutch]

There are a few articles written about breaking a broody. Maybe you find more wisdom in one of them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...ody&t=ams_article&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

My hens usually stop laying in autumn. Moult and shorter days are a good reason to stop producing eggs for a while.
Only young hens of certain breeds and the extreme laying breeds keep supplying eggs through winter.
Taking a break in winter is healthy for the chickens.

 

[wrathsfarm]

You say they have a nest made in the garage? But you have her outside in a cage covered with a tarp and quilt?

Can you move her into the garage, at least out of the weather somehow away from the rain/snow/predators?

 

[BDutch]

I never used a broody jail. I take away the fake eggs/eggs asap where the broody sits. If she continues I lock the entrance, possible bc I have 2 spots with nestboxes. But then I often find eggs of the other under the roost or on even strangers spots. So I like to avoid closing off their regular spot.

at least out of the weather somehow away from the rain/snow/predators?

She made a rain cover, lives in Texas, and has a sturdy cage by the looks of it.

+ Chickens are birds and can endure lots weather if they are used to it. But also true: chickens are not fit to live naturally in harsh/ cold environments in winter.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not add heat to your coop. It is not necessary. For most broodies, 4-5 days is about all they need to be broken. A wire dog crate with food/water and no bedding, is what many use. My ideal broody breaking cage is an outdoor covered 7x8x5ft high pen on the ground. It is tall enough to place a roost inside, and there is no bedding to make a nest. They spend their first 2 days on the roost much of the time, just being mad at me. Then they start scratching around, and I give them treats of egg and a small amount of scratch grains, while their usual food and water are always available. After 5 days, they go back to the coop. If they run immediately to a nest box, they go back out for another day or two. Usually they are broke by 5 days, but I have had a few determined ones who might have required 10 days. I had a large flock where 1/3 of my hens seemed to go broody every summer, and some 2-3 times a year. They drove me crazy. Good luck on your breaking.