[FarmerGeddun]

Hi all,

I have an impudent Silver Sussex bantam who continually goes broody.  I have cooled her off and she stays out for a couple of days and then bam - she's sitting again.  I'm fed up of separating her continually.  Every morning I push her off the eggs (she doesn't put up a fight) and she goes outside for some food and a drink and hangs around with the rest of the girls until one of them lays and she's back there again.  This has been going on for a couple of months now.  She's not lost any weight that I can see as she's still bigger than the rest.  I'm just worried about her lack of exercise.

What can I do?

[ANHBUC]

You would need to put her in a cage on her own.  Most people use a dog crate but you can make something yourself.  A mesh base is a good idea so she does not get too comfortable, but make sure she has shelter from the sun and rain.  Put water and food in with her and if she lays an egg make sure you remove it.

I have recently put a young broody (20 weeks old!  ) into a rabbit hutch in a cool shed.  She did not like this as she wanted to go back to the main coop.  She has been in there for most of the week and I have let her out with the flock this morning.  I will just have to see if it has broken her broodiness but if she is anything like her mother she will be broody again soon.

[FarmerGeddun]

I have done this a few times already (the cage thing).  Each time she cools off, doesn't lay any eggs and then goes back to being broody within a couple of days.

[grinling]

once broody they can take a few weeks before laying again. They are great if you want to hatch, but not so good on the egg producing front. As I have other hens I was not too fussed about my bantam.

[ANHBUC]

You have to have them in the cage for quite a few days and not back in the coop at night.  Even a week if that is how long it takes. 

I have just checked and it was Sunday when I put my young broody in solitary and I let her out today.  She is happily back with the rest of the flock and has made no attempt to go in the coop.  It is a bit hit and miss, she might go broody again next week!!   

[Sparkyrog]

As I remember the old fashioned (what I call proper ) Arks had broody coops built in to the top of the apex ! These had slatted wooden floors and solved the problem fairly fast . They don't like cold winds round their bits 

[ehs284]

Sparkyrog, that sounds very interesting. I've never seen one. Any chance of a picture or a link? Might be the practical answer to a common problem.

[Sparkyrog]

The last one I had gave up the ghost 20 years ago and was probably 40 years old then but I will see what I can find 

[ehs284]

Thanks

[FarmerGeddun]

She's back in chokey.  Doesn't like it though and pulled out both of her feed containers!  We'll see what happens in a few days.

[Sparkyrog]

Ok having looked extensively on line and being unable to find any info ! I will look at the cosy of building one which I can  with a couple of improvements (ie weld mesh instead of chicken wire ) However I expect the cost to be too great to be justified. But I will look at it !They are roughly 16ft long and 6ft wide by 5ft high and balanced on wheels to make easily movable