Thank you for these tips and the guidance - I had heard about the "dunking" technique but I was very reluctant to try it, just had a bad feeling - your explanation makes so much sense and this method seems much kinder and more ethical.
Subbed, hope to support you further in the future. Just working on raising 50, 2 week old Australasian whites, already had some disease from the warehouse, so fingers crossed all goes well! best of happiness
Sound advice thanks. I've sectioned off a corner of my covered run with food & water for my broody buff orp. she can still see her flock but will have 3 days cooling off.
Good idea Sophia - unfortunately, Buff Orps have a tendency to brood. Make sure that her area is shaded and preferably raise her crate off the ground so that there's enough air flow underneath it - the idea being to cool her down. We call it The Crate of Shame here :)
Very informative video, I have a Salmon Faverolle that goes broody quite often and I use a large crate that I call broody jail, usually in a few days shes back with the flock and back to being the sweetest bird in the flock.
Hi there, this is one of the best advices though, what else to do if it's a stubborn hen? Question: Can a hen become egg-bound if spends more than three days in a broody jail? Would greatly appreciate a response. Thanks!
I usually just take the eggs away from the broody hen. That has seem to work for me. I didn't know it was because of the heat, so I am glad to know that. Thank you for this video.
+feabeara Thank you, glad that it has helped you. Taking the eggs form the nest box on a regular basis is a good habit anyhow; it stops them being trampled, possibly broken and discourages brooding in the early stages. Some hens though just get it into their heads to be broodies; usually the really fluffy and hot ones! Having said that, one of my RIR bantams - a very good layer and not very fluffy - seems to be on the nest a lot at the moment, and she's bald underneath too. If she's still doing this tomorrow, then I see a spell in The Cage of Shame coming up LOL
When my chickens are broody evert day i would taje the eggs take out the hen and place as far away from the coop as i possibly could and it would stop her from going in for a few hours as she would just wonder about
She's what's called a Blue Angel, but they can go by other names. She's a cross between an araucana (blue egg layer) and a white Leghorn. About 90% of these crosses will lay a pale turquoise egg, the rest a big white egg. Clare Taylor
Wyandottes are a broody breed.... found this out after the purchase last May1, 21. But they are nice to look at! I have one that goes right back after being done.... I'm at the point where I am wondering why bother. And IT IS ONE! So far I have yet to find info on repeating the same cycle after stopping. Chicken broth potential maybe? :/
Thank you for what is clearly expert instruction. I hope you can answer a question I have... We have kept about 20 chickens for 10 years or so, and have always replaced aging layers by buying live chicks. We are currently raising buff Orpingtons and hope to raise our own chicks in the future using broodys. We already have separate, but adjoining facilities that we use for growing on and introducing new chicks. I'm hoping that we can use that to house several broodies at once by starting them at the same time. My question is - Will such "sister/aunts" tolerate one anothers chicks without predation? Thank you again for sharing this valuable information. It really helps.
Hello David Yes, you 'can' put a couple of broodies in together, and I have done it before with success. However, there are cases when the broodies fight over the chicks and the little ones get injured or even killed. Is it possible to make each broody hen a separate brooding area within your set-up? I think they'd be better kept apart. You will be lucky to get all of your hens to go broody at the same time! Clare
@@CotswoldChickens thanks for your quick answer. I wouldn't need All of my hens to go broody at one time - 1 in 4 would probably be about right. However I have no experience with broody hens - the breeds we have had in the past just never did it. Nonetheless it sounds like you would not recommend cohabitating mother hens. I will accept that as being good advice and plan accordingly. Thank you.
I have a question. What about doing this in winter when the temperatures get really low? I can see how this would work in summer but winter when it's in the 20's or lower? Cover it at night or what? Thanks.
+schoon3303 That depends on how cold it is; hens are less likely to go broody in the winter as the ambient temperature is lower, which keeps their own temp low and discourages brooding. Their body temperature is 105deg, so they are a lot warmer than us, and feel the cold less. I would leave a bird in a broody cage down to about 5deg at night, but not lower without covering it. Don't forget to leave ventilation though if you do this. Hope this helps
I have a broody right now, probably a day or two. It's below freezing through the night and my rooster died last month, so it's unlikely the eggs are fertile. I worry about separating her 24/7 because I don't want her freezing. Also, I have a small flock (three birds right now) and I don't want to steal warmth from the other two either. Any suggestions?
Great video. I've used this kind of set up for the past 4 years with my pekin bantams with great success. I've now got a chicken who refuses to give up! She's been in my "broody breaker" for a week now, but was in there for 3 days on two occasion's just before too. I do cover the cage with an old sheet for a bit of protection, should I remove this? She is under a porch roof so won't get rained on (the cage won't fit in the run with the other chickens, so I can't do that) any advice would be amazing to help me..the stressed chicken mum!
Hello Becky There's no need to cover the broody cage with a sheet if it is in the run and protected from the elements; anything which impedes airflow should be avoided. Just raise it up on bricks and use the plastic tray as a 'roof' to prevent the others from climbing on top. One of my own pekins is constantly broody through the summer too.
Not if the broody cage is in the secure run; it will be safe, and she will be fine. If you let her out at night to go into the coop, she will get hot and broody again.
Isn't it too uncomfortable for the broody to stand/sit on the metal wires in the cage for the whole 3 days? Genuine question, thank you! :) I feel they would be more comfy if that would be some kind of wooden palette with holes on the bottom to keep the air flow (just smth similar, more comfortable). We have a broody hen now but want to try to hatch some chicks - so I'm binge watching all the stuff related to it so we have as much info as possible (we've had hens all our life but never chicks)
Thank you for this. I have a Black Australorp who has been sitting on no eggs but doesn’t care. Been taking her out of the nesting box several times a day and blocking off the nesting boxes at night with cardboard but she does her best to break in. If she can’t she just sleeps on the floor of the coop. Hoping this works!
CotswoldChickens Thank you for the reply. She was in there one day and I took her out because she was no longer puffed up. But then she started puffing up again in the run so I had to put her back. She’s really mad and knocking over her water and food constantly.
@@cherokeepurple4480 Try using coop cups, which clip to the crate mesh. You will need to follow the instructions and leave here in there for 3 days 24/7 and keep the crate on the shade/cool. if she's been allowed to brood for some time, then she might need a 2nd go - see what happens when you let her out. A reminder to let her out in the morning , not the evening.
@@CotswoldChickens Thank you for the info. I actually let her out this morning after 2 days and 2 nights inside. She looked so eager to get out and no longer puffed up. I'm happy to say she's been hanging out with her chicken friends all day and not in the nesting box. Thank you!
I have a coop with the nesting boxes and roosting areas above a small run and they are then out during the day in a larger fenced off run. Should I keep my Broody Black Maran in the cage within the run for 3 days or in the smaller coop area, where the others would be asleep above her but she would be protected overnight. Or could I let her sleep in her own jail within the coop at night then move the cage outside during the day?
Hi Andy Ideally, you would put the crate in the run for 3 days 24/7; this is assuming that your run is covered and secure. A shady/cool area is best. The idea is to increase airflow to cool down her abdomen and lower those hormones. Occasionally, especially in very warm weather, it can take longer than 3 days. Hope this helps Clare Taylor
@@CotswoldChickens Unfortunately it isn't secure overnight, my hens are always locked away in their coop as its just a fence, we don't have a fox problem but there is a risk!
@@andycarter8311 Do bear in mind that chickens need some cover for when the weather is bad, and a secure run for those darker winter days - they can't spend al day in their coop. With the predictions of yet another AI lockdown this coming winter, you'll be required by DEFRA to keep your birds under cover. A lot of chicken keepers are preparing now for this eventuality.
@@CotswoldChickens Sorry wasnt descriptive enough, the coop is secure and built with a run underneath they can access that's locked and sheltered with the coop above and a roof, currently they are out during the day free ranging in a much larger area which is just fenced off, they tend to wander into the secure area in evening then locked in the roosting area above for sleep. Was just unsure wether my brooding hen can be brought into the secure area at night and into the free range fenced area during the day
@@andycarter8311 I see - thanks for the description. I would make sure that she is in the crate within your secure run, certainly at night. You can move her into the other area in the day if you prefer, but it would need to be cool and with plenty of airflow - they idea is to cool her down. Clare Taylor
Stupid question, do you keep the cage outside all night? One of our 3 (from Cotswolds) has been broody for about 3 weeks now, need to break her out of it!
+Paul F Absolutely! They need to be kept in the broody cage for 3 days, 24/7 for it to work. The best way to do this is to pop it on some bricks in the run, then they can be around the others, keep dry and stay cool.
Hi. Will the said chicken still lay eggs after. And I have 2 other chickens that where laying eggs and they have now stopped do you think they will start to lay again after. Susan
OK, so a broody hen will lay until she has a clutch of eggs to sit on, she will sometimes nick them from other hens, so it's a good idea not to leave eggs in the nest box for too long. When you have had her in the broody cage and she's back with the flock, she ought to start laying after about a week. Having said that, now that the daylight is going, they will lay less eggs anyway, or may start moulting, which will stop egg production until the bird is fully fledged. I hope that this helps, but please ask if you have any more queries.
Thank you for your article...can a chicken become broody and go thru moult at the same time? I have had my RIR in a broody cage now 3 days with little change. I do make sure she visit her throughtout the day and encourage her to eat / drink. She has been doing this for almost a week before realizing that she was acting broody.
Hello Katy, you need to keep her in the crate for 3 days, 24/7 as specified in the video. Keep her and the crate cool (hard I know in hot weather like we have now). If she is still broody when you let her out, then pop her in again. I have one at the moment who is relentlessly broody, but if I leave her on the nest, she will starve herself. Clare
Ok, so you can't tell if an egg si fertile without trying to incubate it; once you set the eggs under a broody hen, you would normally wait 7 days and then candle the eggs with a special light to see if there's an embryo growing inside. A bit like a human ultrasound. The cockerel will mate with the hen most days until she decides tha she has enough eggs to brood on, a hen won't always brood. it is perfectly Ok to eat fertilised eggs so long as they are removed from the nest every day. They are no different at this stage from a regular, unfertilised egg. If you are considering setting a broody on some eggs, then it is best to get her a broody coop of her own, then pop the cockerel and a couple of your hens in that coop for a week or two to get some fertile eggs laid. Take the eggs out each day, then remove the cockerel and extra hen and set the eggs under your broody.
One of our bantams is going through this right now for the first time. Just a bit worried about doing this in the run instead of the coop ay night. Big increase in foxes recently and lots of cats. Any tips
It really depends on how secure your run is, if you are concerned, then perhaps put the crate into a cool outhouse or garage at night. Don't put the bird in with the others as she'll never stop brooding of you do that :)
i only have two hens so i am worried about the effects of separating them both from each other. they have already been broody before and seem to of become it again quite quickly so is there a way to prevent broody behaviour?
Not really! I know that's probably not the answer that you wanted, but apart from removing the eggs from the nest box regularly, there's not much else that you can do - a rise in temperature will get their hormones flowing and it's all downhill from there!
i almost brought a fertilised egg to try for my broody hen but ive used this method instead , 3 days and nights as you said and shes all good , but its been 5 days since it broke and she's not laid since , do you know if she will . ive left the plastic egg in , but dont think she nesting at all
She should come into lay about a week after she's stopped brooding; I would add some Nettex Vit Boost tonic to their water to get her back into condition. Have you wormed them recently with Flubenvet?
@@CotswoldChickens Hi thanks for the reply ,thats good news, i will add nettex ,not Flubenvet no, i gave them apple cider vinegar and garlic, should i switch ? was trying to keep it natural
@@auntiemandy5638 I'd advise that you send off to Westgate Labs for a faecal worm egg testing kit (super-easy to use) and see what their worm status is. I'm afraid that ACV or garlic aren't wormers and nor will they deter worms, which can easily kill your flock if they get a load in their gut. I also like to keep things natural with my girls, but I am mindful of their health, so they are tested every quarter and wormed with pre-medicated Flubenvet pellets if necessary; this keeps them healthy and thriving.
@@CotswoldChickens noted thank you , i haven't had them long and they were wormed as i got them so ill ask at the farm shop i use and get some, thanks for the advice and links, much appreciated
@@auntiemandy5638 The pre-medicated pellets are fed exclusively (nothing else) for 7 whole days and keep them in the run as much as possible. If you have a heavy worm load or haven't wormed before, then leave a gap of 3 weeks and repeat. Thereafter test for worm eggs every quarter.
Not at all, provided that it's a small mesh on the crate - they are fine. Dog crates have wider mesh, so you'd need to cut down some weldmesh and put it in the bottom.
i never thought raising chickens was this difficult... i just saw a vid where a guy put them in water, but i see your method is much easier..... i think the last guy was just too lazy to do his job as a chicken owner, after watching you. i dont have any just was interested in what it takes to raise them.... i knew the incubation part and the light checking of the egg.. just never prior to the laying part. you seem to me like you dont do anything shoddy so i would side with you on this brooding matter. i have been thinking about living off the land but i am making sure i know what it all entails. chickens would be an excellent staple animal to have. thanks.
+esser i am from the states btw .. i just checked out your channel page ... excuse my ignorance ... of course you know what you are doing... you are my go to place for this subject. cheers!!
+esser Thank you for your kind comments Esser :) Chickens are the easiest livestock to keep; their care can be as easy or as involved as you care to make it. They also interact well with your crops, keeping the plots free of bugs and slugs in the winter, weeding and fertilising the land too. In return they provide you with tasty, nutritious eggs and endless entertainment. Keep watching as there will be more videos!
So you're saying all the other chickens spend the night in the coop, but she stays in the run alone in the crate? I guess I'm a little worried about weasels as predators at night getting into the run and getting to her - we have hardwire sides on the run, but just coop wire on top. I guess it depends on the holes of the crate.
You are right Melissa; she stays in the crate for 3 days 24/7 and you release her the next morning so that she will be more inclined to stay out. At home, I use the smaller white crate shown in the video - have been using that one for about 30 years and never had a problem. I have Omlet runs, which are super-safe. I hope this helps Clare
I know I am a bit late, but I am having the exact same concern- I have a good run - FOR DAY TIME, but not for night. I called the little hatchery where I bought my pullets and asked him if I should put the cage/crate in the coop or garage or something at night because of weasels, etc .. and he said that I had to do that to keep her safe - that I could not leave her in the run at night. This is day one in chicken time out- I put the crate in the run at about 8:15 am and I just put her in the coop around 5 pm ( a little while ago as I do not want to be dealing with at dusk. I guess I 'll put her in the run for fresh air in the am and do this a few days.
i had buy the chicks from market, now they are laying eggs but now these days before two week ago one of my hen stop laying eggs i think my hen want to hatch eggs but She did not accept eggs for hatching, what can i do that my hen is going to sit on eggs if not than when the time is come when my hen want to sit on eggs to hatch them , please tell me
Hi The fact that she isn't laying doesn't necessarily mean that she is broody, there could be some other reason, such as needing to be wormed. The hen will need to be broody - sitting fast on the nest - before you set any eggs under her. Do bear in mind that you will need to have a separate coop for the broody hen while she is hatching and bringing up the chicks.
I did the broody crate method for 3 days with my first broody but I didn't have the heart to keep her in it during the day time so she only slept in at night. I let her out with her friends and checked on her now and then so she didnt sneak off to sit on eggs. As long as she was busy doing what the other hens were doing I let her be and it worked
Hello Yes, I had that too, when it was -5deg at night; you think they'd know better! Still pop them in the broody cage and they will snap out of the broody trance. They won't feel the cold due to their high body temperature and feather coats.
@@CotswoldChickens thanks for the info! She couldn't resist fresh grains this morning and I stole the eggs like a weasel in the night... lol... she set on em just over night... are the eggs still good to eat?
@@crickus5249 Is she still in the nest, or in a broody cage? I would pop her in a cage. If the eggs are from the previous day only, then they are fine to eat.
@@CotswoldChickens she gave up the ghost! Perched with her buddies this evening😁... seems some river shrimp and fresh scratch took her mind off that nest👍
If they are broody, then they won't be laying eggs. If they have just been sat on others' eggs, then you should be removing those anyhow to discourage brooding.
+BrianStocking :o) that's one of those piece of string questions! Some never go broody, others will be broody all the time, although experience tells me that the fluffier the hen, the more likely she is to go broody, and also hot weather promotes it. Some breeds such as pekins, orpingtons and silkies will be almost always broody in the summer, having said that , I had one pekin who never sat on eggs.
+CotswoldChickens Thanks for that answer and thanks for the informative video. I have lots to learn as I'm new to this. My chickens have just started laying a month or so ago. So I guess this is something new to look forward to. Thank you.
+BrianStocking I hope that you escape the 'moody broodies';. If you're in the UK, why not come on one of my courses? www.cotswoldchickens.com/chicken-keeping-courses--workshops-17-c.asp then you can join others and learn all about chicken keeping.
Well as you said, it did happen. Out of 6 hens 3 did brood. Starting in March this year, 1 of the Cochin brooded for 3 months. The other Cochin 3 times at 4 week intervals with two or three weeks in between. And the Cuckoo Maran for just for one month. I was going to do the "cage of shame" but decided as long as they had no eggs under them to just let them have it. I think next year I'll let one of the Cochin hens be a mother. The Cuckoo's are just to mean. Thanks again for your advice and good luck to you all.
Hi, it's not something that's easy to encourage if they aren't inclined to sit, but you can try buying a 'pot egg' (china egg) and leaving it in the nest to see if that gives one of them ideas. If I am honest, I spend most of my time trying to stop one of mine brooding!
Ok, so the usual way to tell is to fill a glass jug with water, lower the eggs into it one at a time. Those which float or stand on their tips will be bad; those which stay on the bottom will be OK to eat. Might be worth keeping her in the run for a while so that she remembers to lay in the nest box.
I’m confused. My hen was found in a dark corner of my yard with about 8 eggs under her. It was cold and windy so at dark I moved her to her house with her eggs. The next day she was running around with the boys, abandoned her eggs completely. When I returned from work, I found her right back in the corner again. Can I eat the abandoned eggs? She only sat on them, I’m guessing for 3 days. I’m not going to touch her this time. I only have her, an old old silky girl, and 2 boys. I will follow her lead, I guess.
Hello Kimber It's hard to tell if she has sat on them long enough for the embryos to start growing. Personally, I would either separate her out into a coop of her own, and candle he eggs to see if there's anything growing inside. If there isn't, then discard the eggs rather than eating them. Without candling them, you won't be able to tel if they are even fertile.
@@CotswoldChickens Thank you so much. I have 2 coops/houses, I put her on her own, but she went right back to the corner come sundown. I came home for lunch and she was running around the yard! I will toss the eggs then. Really appreciate your advice. Thanks for these great videos!
@@kimber45ish She obviously isn't ready to sit then. If she is going to brood, then best to keep her in a small coop and run with no outside access. I would check for, and take up any eggs to avoid this happening again.
Ideally, the broody cage should be in their run so that the rest of the flock can see her and then she won't be a stranger after her 3 days 'out'. If this isn't the case, then you'll need to partition the run and have her in that section, in sight of the rest of the flock, pop one of your friendlier birds in with her, and then do a gradual, supervised integration. Claretaylor.com
No, broilers don't usually go broody, also, in a commercial rearing environment, they would be culled before they reach maturity. A hen will only go broody if she is already laying.
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Clearest and best advice I've come across. I was getting desperate! The "don'ts" are particularly helpful, as is the "why".
I'm not getting desperate I'm just getting pissed off. I have four right now started off as one somehow I stopped that one and now I have four.
This video was very helpful when my hen was broody. Thank you!
I've never heard much of this. Very helpful.
Thank you for these tips and the guidance - I had heard about the "dunking" technique but I was very reluctant to try it, just had a bad feeling - your explanation makes so much sense and this method seems much kinder and more ethical.
It would be excellent if you did a video on how to intentionally use a broody to raise chicks. Thanks for the clearly expert information.
Great video!! Thank you so much for posting.
Your technique works 100% thanks for posting this
Thanks Clare, it worked after 2days of seperation. Awesome.
Subbed, hope to support you further in the future. Just working on raising 50, 2 week old Australasian whites, already had some disease from the warehouse, so fingers crossed all goes well! best of happiness
Thank you! That really helps.
Sound advice thanks. I've sectioned off a corner of my covered run with food & water for my broody buff orp. she can still see her flock but will have 3 days cooling off.
Good idea Sophia - unfortunately, Buff Orps have a tendency to brood. Make sure that her area is shaded and preferably raise her crate off the ground so that there's enough air flow underneath it - the idea being to cool her down. We call it The Crate of Shame here :)
Great tip. Thank u
Very informative video, I have a Salmon Faverolle that goes broody quite often and I use a large crate that I call broody jail, usually in a few days shes back with the flock and back to being the sweetest bird in the flock.
LOL ours is known as The Cage of Shame!
Mine was called the hole.
I love your informative videos. keep it up (Y)
very helpful thank you
Hi there, this is one of the best advices though, what else to do if it's a stubborn hen? Question: Can a hen become egg-bound if spends more than three days in a broody jail?
Would greatly appreciate a response. Thanks!
I usually just take the eggs away from the broody hen. That has seem to work for me. I didn't know it was because of the heat, so I am glad to know that. Thank you for this video.
+feabeara Thank you, glad that it has helped you. Taking the eggs form the nest box on a regular basis is a good habit anyhow; it stops them being trampled, possibly broken and discourages brooding in the early stages. Some hens though just get it into their heads to be broodies; usually the really fluffy and hot ones! Having said that, one of my RIR bantams - a very good layer and not very fluffy - seems to be on the nest a lot at the moment, and she's bald underneath too. If she's still doing this tomorrow, then I see a spell in The Cage of Shame coming up LOL
My most broody one is a bantam, she is so tiny. I think the cage of shame is a great idea. I am glad I saw this video. Thank you.
When my chickens are broody evert day i would taje the eggs take out the hen and place as far away from the coop as i possibly could and it would stop her from going in for a few hours as she would just wonder about
Very helpful. Thank you. Could you please tell me what type/breed hen was the little white one you popped into the small cage?
She's what's called a Blue Angel, but they can go by other names. She's a cross between an araucana (blue egg layer) and a white Leghorn. About 90% of these crosses will lay a pale turquoise egg, the rest a big white egg.
Clare Taylor
Thanks
Wyandottes are a broody breed.... found this out after the purchase last May1, 21. But they are nice to look at! I have one that goes right back after being done.... I'm at the point where I am wondering why bother. And IT IS ONE! So far I have yet to find info on repeating the same cycle after stopping. Chicken broth potential maybe? :/
Best video for my broody hen. Thank you so much. She will have to go in the hole!
Thank you for what is clearly expert instruction. I hope you can answer a question I have...
We have kept about 20 chickens for 10 years or so, and have always replaced aging layers by buying live chicks.
We are currently raising buff Orpingtons and hope to raise our own chicks in the future using broodys. We already have separate, but adjoining facilities that we use for growing on and introducing new chicks. I'm hoping that we can use that to house several broodies at once by starting them at the same time.
My question is - Will such "sister/aunts" tolerate one anothers chicks without predation?
Thank you again for sharing this valuable information. It really helps.
Hello David
Yes, you 'can' put a couple of broodies in together, and I have done it before with success. However, there are cases when the broodies fight over the chicks and the little ones get injured or even killed. Is it possible to make each broody hen a separate brooding area within your set-up? I think they'd be better kept apart.
You will be lucky to get all of your hens to go broody at the same time!
Clare
@@CotswoldChickens thanks for your quick answer. I wouldn't need All of my hens to go broody at one time - 1 in 4 would probably be about right. However I have no experience with broody hens - the breeds we have had in the past just never did it.
Nonetheless it sounds like you would not recommend cohabitating mother hens. I will accept that as being good advice and plan accordingly.
Thank you.
I have a question. What about doing this in winter when the temperatures get really low? I can see how this would work in summer but winter when it's in the 20's or lower? Cover it at night or what? Thanks.
+schoon3303 That depends on how cold it is; hens are less likely to go broody in the winter as the ambient temperature is lower, which keeps their own temp low and discourages brooding.
Their body temperature is 105deg, so they are a lot warmer than us, and feel the cold less. I would leave a bird in a broody cage down to about 5deg at night, but not lower without covering it. Don't forget to leave ventilation though if you do this.
Hope this helps
I have a broody right now, probably a day or two. It's below freezing through the night and my rooster died last month, so it's unlikely the eggs are fertile. I worry about separating her 24/7 because I don't want her freezing. Also, I have a small flock (three birds right now) and I don't want to steal warmth from the other two either. Any suggestions?
Great video. I've used this kind of set up for the past 4 years with my pekin bantams with great success. I've now got a chicken who refuses to give up! She's been in my "broody breaker" for a week now, but was in there for 3 days on two occasion's just before too. I do cover the cage with an old sheet for a bit of protection, should I remove this? She is under a porch roof so won't get rained on (the cage won't fit in the run with the other chickens, so I can't do that) any advice would be amazing to help me..the stressed chicken mum!
Hello Becky
There's no need to cover the broody cage with a sheet if it is in the run and protected from the elements; anything which impedes airflow should be avoided. Just raise it up on bricks and use the plastic tray as a 'roof' to prevent the others from climbing on top. One of my own pekins is constantly broody through the summer too.
Also can you tell when they are in the cage if the broodyness has passed?
Great advice! But is there any concern with keeping the broody outside at night by herself if the rest go in the coop to rest?
Not if the broody cage is in the secure run; it will be safe, and she will be fine. If you let her out at night to go into the coop, she will get hot and broody again.
Isn't it too uncomfortable for the broody to stand/sit on the metal wires in the cage for the whole 3 days? Genuine question, thank you! :) I feel they would be more comfy if that would be some kind of wooden palette with holes on the bottom to keep the air flow (just smth similar, more comfortable). We have a broody hen now but want to try to hatch some chicks - so I'm binge watching all the stuff related to it so we have as much info as possible (we've had hens all our life but never chicks)
Thank you for this. I have a Black Australorp who has been sitting on no eggs but doesn’t care. Been taking her out of the nesting box several times a day and blocking off the nesting boxes at night with cardboard but she does her best to break in. If she can’t she just sleeps on the floor of the coop. Hoping this works!
It's very good, but if she has been brooding for a while, then she might need to go through twice.
Hope it works!
Clare www.claretaylor.com
CotswoldChickens Thank you for the reply. She was in there one day and I took her out because she was no longer puffed up. But then she started puffing up again in the run so I had to put her back. She’s really mad and knocking over her water and food constantly.
@@cherokeepurple4480 Try using coop cups, which clip to the crate mesh.
You will need to follow the instructions and leave here in there for 3 days 24/7 and keep the crate on the shade/cool. if she's been allowed to brood for some time, then she might need a 2nd go - see what happens when you let her out. A reminder to let her out in the morning , not the evening.
@@CotswoldChickens Thank you for the info. I actually let her out this morning after 2 days and 2 nights inside. She looked so eager to get out and no longer puffed up. I'm happy to say she's been hanging out with her chicken friends all day and not in the nesting box. Thank you!
Nice😉
I have a coop with the nesting boxes and roosting areas above a small run and they are then out during the day in a larger fenced off run. Should I keep my Broody Black Maran in the cage within the run for 3 days or in the smaller coop area, where the others would be asleep above her but she would be protected overnight. Or could I let her sleep in her own jail within the coop at night then move the cage outside during the day?
Hi Andy
Ideally, you would put the crate in the run for 3 days 24/7; this is assuming that your run is covered and secure. A shady/cool area is best.
The idea is to increase airflow to cool down her abdomen and lower those hormones. Occasionally, especially in very warm weather, it can take longer than 3 days.
Hope this helps
Clare Taylor
@@CotswoldChickens Unfortunately it isn't secure overnight, my hens are always locked away in their coop as its just a fence, we don't have a fox problem but there is a risk!
@@andycarter8311 Do bear in mind that chickens need some cover for when the weather is bad, and a secure run for those darker winter days - they can't spend al day in their coop. With the predictions of yet another AI lockdown this coming winter, you'll be required by DEFRA to keep your birds under cover.
A lot of chicken keepers are preparing now for this eventuality.
@@CotswoldChickens Sorry wasnt descriptive enough, the coop is secure and built with a run underneath they can access that's locked and sheltered with the coop above and a roof, currently they are out during the day free ranging in a much larger area which is just fenced off, they tend to wander into the secure area in evening then locked in the roosting area above for sleep. Was just unsure wether my brooding hen can be brought into the secure area at night and into the free range fenced area during the day
@@andycarter8311 I see - thanks for the description.
I would make sure that she is in the crate within your secure run, certainly at night. You can move her into the other area in the day if you prefer, but it would need to be cool and with plenty of airflow - they idea is to cool her down.
Clare Taylor
Stupid question, do you keep the cage outside all night? One of our 3 (from Cotswolds) has been broody for about 3 weeks now, need to break her out of it!
Paul F Yes. But you want her to not get wet at all.
+Paul F
Absolutely! They need to be kept in the broody cage for 3 days, 24/7 for it to work. The best way to do this is to pop it on some bricks in the run, then they can be around the others, keep dry and stay cool.
Hi. Will the said chicken still lay eggs after. And I have 2 other chickens that where laying eggs and they have now stopped do you think they will start to lay again after. Susan
OK, so a broody hen will lay until she has a clutch of eggs to sit on, she will sometimes nick them from other hens, so it's a good idea not to leave eggs in the nest box for too long. When you have had her in the broody cage and she's back with the flock, she ought to start laying after about a week. Having said that, now that the daylight is going, they will lay less eggs anyway, or may start moulting, which will stop egg production until the bird is fully fledged.
I hope that this helps, but please ask if you have any more queries.
Thank you for your article...can a chicken become broody and go thru moult at the same time? I have had my RIR in a broody cage now 3 days with little change. I do make sure she visit her throughtout the day and encourage her to eat / drink. She has been doing this for almost a week before realizing that she was acting broody.
Do I do this right away or try to get her out of the box a few times? Mine started being broody 2 days ago.
Hello Katy, you need to keep her in the crate for 3 days, 24/7 as specified in the video. Keep her and the crate cool (hard I know in hot weather like we have now). If she is still broody when you let her out, then pop her in again. I have one at the moment who is relentlessly broody, but if I leave her on the nest, she will starve herself.
Clare
How can u tell if an egg is fertilized or not (for example if a chicken mated how many eggs would it lay before you can start eating eggs)
Ok, so you can't tell if an egg si fertile without trying to incubate it; once you set the eggs under a broody hen, you would normally wait 7 days and then candle the eggs with a special light to see if there's an embryo growing inside. A bit like a human ultrasound.
The cockerel will mate with the hen most days until she decides tha she has enough eggs to brood on, a hen won't always brood. it is perfectly Ok to eat fertilised eggs so long as they are removed from the nest every day. They are no different at this stage from a regular, unfertilised egg.
If you are considering setting a broody on some eggs, then it is best to get her a broody coop of her own, then pop the cockerel and a couple of your hens in that coop for a week or two to get some fertile eggs laid. Take the eggs out each day, then remove the cockerel and extra hen and set the eggs under your broody.
One of our bantams is going through this right now for the first time. Just a bit worried about doing this in the run instead of the coop ay night. Big increase in foxes recently and lots of cats. Any tips
It really depends on how secure your run is, if you are concerned, then perhaps put the crate into a cool outhouse or garage at night. Don't put the bird in with the others as she'll never stop brooding of you do that :)
i only have two hens so i am worried about the effects of separating them both from each other. they have already been broody before and seem to of become it again quite quickly so is there a way to prevent broody behaviour?
Not really! I know that's probably not the answer that you wanted, but apart from removing the eggs from the nest box regularly, there's not much else that you can do - a rise in temperature will get their hormones flowing and it's all downhill from there!
i almost brought a fertilised egg to try for my broody hen but ive used this method instead , 3 days and nights as you said and shes all good , but its been 5 days since it broke and she's not laid since , do you know if she will . ive left the plastic egg in , but dont think she nesting at all
She should come into lay about a week after she's stopped brooding; I would add some Nettex Vit Boost tonic to their water to get her back into condition. Have you wormed them recently with Flubenvet?
@@CotswoldChickens Hi thanks for the reply ,thats good news, i will add nettex ,not Flubenvet no, i gave them apple cider vinegar and garlic, should i switch ? was trying to keep it natural
@@auntiemandy5638 I'd advise that you send off to Westgate Labs for a faecal worm egg testing kit (super-easy to use) and see what their worm status is. I'm afraid that ACV or garlic aren't wormers and nor will they deter worms, which can easily kill your flock if they get a load in their gut. I also like to keep things natural with my girls, but I am mindful of their health, so they are tested every quarter and wormed with pre-medicated Flubenvet pellets if necessary; this keeps them healthy and thriving.
@@CotswoldChickens noted thank you , i haven't had them long and they were wormed as i got them so ill ask at the farm shop i use and get some, thanks for the advice and links, much appreciated
@@auntiemandy5638 The pre-medicated pellets are fed exclusively (nothing else) for 7 whole days and keep them in the run as much as possible. If you have a heavy worm load or haven't wormed before, then leave a gap of 3 weeks and repeat. Thereafter test for worm eggs every quarter.
Probably a stupid question, but won't the wire cage hurt her feet? How can I break her broodiness without hurting her?
Not at all, provided that it's a small mesh on the crate - they are fine. Dog crates have wider mesh, so you'd need to cut down some weldmesh and put it in the bottom.
i never thought raising chickens was this difficult... i just saw a vid where a guy put them in water, but i see your method is much easier..... i think the last guy was just too lazy to do his job as a chicken owner, after watching you. i dont have any just was interested in what it takes to raise them.... i knew the incubation part and the light checking of the egg.. just never prior to the laying part. you seem to me like you dont do anything shoddy so i would side with you on this brooding matter. i have been thinking about living off the land but i am making sure i know what it all entails. chickens would be an excellent staple animal to have. thanks.
+esser i am from the states btw .. i just checked out your channel page ... excuse my ignorance ... of course you know what you are doing... you are my go to place for this subject. cheers!!
+esser Thank you for your kind comments Esser :)
Chickens are the easiest livestock to keep; their care can be as easy or as involved as you care to make it. They also interact well with your crops, keeping the plots free of bugs and slugs in the winter, weeding and fertilising the land too. In return they provide you with tasty, nutritious eggs and endless entertainment.
Keep watching as there will be more videos!
If you are raising chickens for meat production it is best to have as much broody hens to sit on as many fertile eggs you can find.
Perhaps, on a small scale, but if you are raising a great number of meat birds then you will need to use an industrial sized incubator
So you're saying all the other chickens spend the night in the coop, but she stays in the run alone in the crate? I guess I'm a little worried about weasels as predators at night getting into the run and getting to her - we have hardwire sides on the run, but just coop wire on top. I guess it depends on the holes of the crate.
You are right Melissa; she stays in the crate for 3 days 24/7 and you release her the next morning so that she will be more inclined to stay out. At home, I use the smaller white crate shown in the video - have been using that one for about 30 years and never had a problem. I have Omlet runs, which are super-safe.
I hope this helps
Clare
I know I am a bit late, but I am having the exact same concern- I have a good run - FOR DAY TIME, but not for night. I called the little hatchery where I bought my pullets and asked him if I should put the cage/crate in the coop or garage or something at night because of weasels, etc .. and he said that I had to do that to keep her safe - that I could not leave her in the run at night. This is day one in chicken time out- I put the crate in the run at about 8:15 am and I just put her in the coop around 5 pm ( a little while ago as I do not want to be dealing with at dusk. I guess I 'll put her in the run for fresh air in the am and do this a few days.
Can you take them out and hold them or no leave them in there
+Macie P It is best to leave them in there so that they keep cool; they will be happy with all their own food and water.
i had buy the chicks from market, now they are laying eggs but now these days before two week ago one of my hen stop laying eggs i think my hen want to hatch eggs but She did not accept eggs for hatching, what can i do that my hen is going to sit on eggs if not than when the time is come when my hen want to sit on eggs to hatch them , please tell me
Hi
The fact that she isn't laying doesn't necessarily mean that she is broody, there could be some other reason, such as needing to be wormed. The hen will need to be broody - sitting fast on the nest - before you set any eggs under her. Do bear in mind that you will need to have a separate coop for the broody hen while she is hatching and bringing up the chicks.
I did the broody crate method for 3 days with my first broody but I didn't have the heart to keep her in it during the day time so she only slept in at night. I let her out with her friends and checked on her now and then so she didnt sneak off to sit on eggs. As long as she was busy doing what the other hens were doing I let her be and it worked
If you cage them with the others but separately for three days, will they lose their place in the pecking order?
Hi
No, this doesn't happen because you put the broody cage in the run so that the others in your flock can still see them.
What to do in the winter? Going into below freezing temp at night... my hen just went broody today
Hello
Yes, I had that too, when it was -5deg at night; you think they'd know better! Still pop them in the broody cage and they will snap out of the broody trance. They won't feel the cold due to their high body temperature and feather coats.
@@CotswoldChickens thanks for the info! She couldn't resist fresh grains this morning and I stole the eggs like a weasel in the night... lol... she set on em just over night... are the eggs still good to eat?
@@crickus5249 Is she still in the nest, or in a broody cage? I would pop her in a cage.
If the eggs are from the previous day only, then they are fine to eat.
@@CotswoldChickens she gave up the ghost! Perched with her buddies this evening😁... seems some river shrimp and fresh scratch took her mind off that nest👍
What about their eggs do you leave the eggs in it
If they are broody, then they won't be laying eggs. If they have just been sat on others' eggs, then you should be removing those anyhow to discourage brooding.
Feather pancake, ha ha.
How often do hens go broody?
+BrianStocking :o) that's one of those piece of string questions! Some never go broody, others will be broody all the time, although experience tells me that the fluffier the hen, the more likely she is to go broody, and also hot weather promotes it. Some breeds such as pekins, orpingtons and silkies will be almost always broody in the summer, having said that , I had one pekin who never sat on eggs.
+CotswoldChickens Thanks for that answer and thanks for the informative video. I have lots to learn as I'm new to this. My chickens have just started laying a month or so ago. So I guess this is something new to look forward to. Thank you.
+BrianStocking I hope that you escape the 'moody broodies';.
If you're in the UK, why not come on one of my courses? www.cotswoldchickens.com/chicken-keeping-courses--workshops-17-c.asp then you can join others and learn all about chicken keeping.
+CotswoldChickens I'm in Florida US other wise I would. Thanks again
Well as you said, it did happen. Out of 6 hens 3 did brood.
Starting in March this year,
1 of the Cochin brooded for 3 months.
The other Cochin 3 times at 4 week intervals with two or three weeks in between.
And the Cuckoo Maran for just for one month.
I was going to do the "cage of shame" but decided as long as they had no eggs under them to just let them have it.
I think next year I'll let one of the Cochin hens be a mother. The Cuckoo's are just to mean.
Thanks again for your advice and good luck to you all.
how could you encourage broodiness?
Hi, it's not something that's easy to encourage if they aren't inclined to sit, but you can try buying a 'pot egg' (china egg) and leaving it in the nest to see if that gives one of them ideas.
If I am honest, I spend most of my time trying to stop one of mine brooding!
You can leave there eggs with them
Can you do more videos
Thank you - I would love to, but Cotswold Chickens doesn't need any more.
CotswoldChickens you should carry on with the chicken channel
I have a hen that being laying eggs in the same spot and I just founded,15 eggs ,how can I tell from good eggs and bad eggs?
Ok, so the usual way to tell is to fill a glass jug with water, lower the eggs into it one at a time. Those which float or stand on their tips will be bad; those which stay on the bottom will be OK to eat.
Might be worth keeping her in the run for a while so that she remembers to lay in the nest box.
Always wanted to know that answer to the good egg bad egg thing . Thanks!!!
We use a rabbit cage.
every year the old chicken must be vaccinate?
Hello, no the vaccines they are given as chicks will usually last them a lifetime.
what vaccines do you recommend, and at what age?
105 degrees Frankenstein is about 40.5 degree science for anyone wondering! :) Humans are about 37.5 (99.5) if memory serves me correctly
My hens are sitting on the eggs for a few k8n and then get off
I’m confused. My hen was found in a dark corner of my yard with about 8 eggs under her. It was cold and windy so at dark I moved her to her house with her eggs. The next day she was running around with the boys, abandoned her eggs completely. When I returned from work, I found her right back in the corner again. Can I eat the abandoned eggs? She only sat on them, I’m guessing for 3 days. I’m not going to touch her this time. I only have her, an old old silky girl, and 2 boys. I will follow her lead, I guess.
Hello Kimber
It's hard to tell if she has sat on them long enough for the embryos to start growing. Personally, I would either separate her out into a coop of her own, and candle he eggs to see if there's anything growing inside. If there isn't, then discard the eggs rather than eating them. Without candling them, you won't be able to tel if they are even fertile.
@@CotswoldChickens Thank you so much. I have 2 coops/houses, I put her on her own, but she went right back to the corner come sundown. I came home for lunch and she was running around the yard! I will toss the eggs then. Really appreciate your advice. Thanks for these great videos!
@@kimber45ish She obviously isn't ready to sit then. If she is going to brood, then best to keep her in a small coop and run with no outside access. I would check for, and take up any eggs to avoid this happening again.
Sometimes when I reintegrate a broody hen the other ladies peck at her. Why is this?
Ideally, the broody cage should be in their run so that the rest of the flock can see her and then she won't be a stranger after her 3 days 'out'. If this isn't the case, then you'll need to partition the run and have her in that section, in sight of the rest of the flock, pop one of your friendlier birds in with her, and then do a gradual, supervised integration.
Claretaylor.com
She was pissed, wow!!
Do broiler go broody
No, broilers don't usually go broody, also, in a commercial rearing environment, they would be culled before they reach maturity. A hen will only go broody if she is already laying.
just put good eggs under them and let them hatch free baby chicks