Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Stablechooks on May 27, 2010, 13:56

Title: Too Many Broody Hens
Post by: Stablechooks on May 27, 2010, 13:56

Any advice welcome on getting my girls back into production. 3 of 4 sitting now, 1 for 4 weeks the others for 2 weeks. I have followed advice and lilfted them off their "nests" every morning, dunked their bums in bucket of cold water and shut them out of Hen house. Just resulted in miffed but persistent chooks!

How long do I continue this morning routine - or should I change tack? We remove any eggs laid by the sole " strike busting" member of the team!

Cheers
Gareth

Title: Re: Too Many Broody Hens
Post by: Casey76 on May 27, 2010, 14:02

You need to put them in something (e.g. dog crate) which will allow air flow to their undersides - no nesting material, but with access to food and water.  This will cool them off and should turn off the hormones which drive them to brood.  It will still probably take a few days.

Title: Re: Too Many Broody Hens
Post by: joyfull on May 27, 2010, 20:26

it could still take them a few weeks before they lay again though  :(

Title: Re: Too Many Broody Hens
Post by: Stablechooks on May 28, 2010, 19:54

Thanks both, will try new tack. Fingers crossed - can't go back to shop-bought eggs now!