How young will a chook go clucky?

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

I meant a nesting box PP not a 4 walled box-box

I have seen some breaders put them in a breeding box, but i suppose you could also call them a cage.

I actually have a spare aviary that I would use, so no

i wouldn't use a box!

If I leave her on the nest while she's broody won't she frighten the others away from laying, since the nests are side by side. She's really scary when she yells at you. If I was another chicken I'd stay away, completely.

Where are the posts on how to move broody hens PP?

I don't know how to search this forum. There doesnt appear to be a search function.

Ta
Chicka

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, Chicka-Dee

,

The "Search" function(it has a magnify glass icon on the left hand side) is under the Australian Poultry Forum banner, you may need a minimum number of posts to access this.

Here are some related threads on the topic

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=7501&hilit=moving+broody+hens

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2297&p=27754&hilit=cages+for+broody+hens#p27754

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14787&p=111412&hilit=stop+broody+hens+from+sitting#p111412

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=14334

soozorps gave the best advice:

soozorps wrote:

patricia wrote:

has been sitting in the same place for around 5 weeks now
How can I break this behaviour.

1. get some eggs that only have 3 or 4 days maximum to hatch and slip them under her - this is a precision thing as they need to be kept warm enough while in transit and they are best put under the bird at night - the eggs will feel hotter than skin temperature when taken from under another hen or out of an incubator and need to be maintained at that temp

2. try putting her in a wire bottomed cage up off the ground - the cool air on her belly will help lower her body temperature and hopefully stop her wanting to sit
make sure she has cold water and food available of course.

after 5 weeks to put eggs under her now (that need full term incubation) would mean 8 weeks sitting and I think that is a bit too long for a chook that normally hatches eggs in three weeks

the choice is yours though of course and others will be able to give good ideas to help stop her wanting to sit

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Thanks PP,

You're wonderful to post those links there for me.

Your time and effort is very deeply appreciated.

I definitely not have the magnifying glass under the APF logo. It could be because I use an iPad rather than a laptop or PC, maybe. Will use my laptop to post some photos of my new coop that I'm getting built over Easter & look for the magnifying glass when I use that.

Once again, thank PP

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Thank you, kindly, Chicka - Dee

,

I am glad that some people upon this earth think that I can help them.

Good luck with your Sussex broody. What is her name???

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

So here is a photo of Clara the one who has gone broody!

I looked at her breast and under area, and she has gone completely bald underneath. I have no idea what is going on there, but yesterday I found a heap of her feathers just in a clump. Have been kicking her off and taking her eggs away each day so she knows not to stay there. I think it is working, but don't know what is up with the feathers.

This is just a photo of her on the nest before she went all postal on me. Isn't she beautiful! I don't have a photo of her sitting all broody and cranky. I have video of that, but wouldn't even know where to start with getting that up on the forum.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Chicka-Dee wrote:

So here is a photo of Clara the one who has gone broody!

This is just a photo of her on the nest before she went all postal on me. Isn't she beautiful! I don't have a photo of her sitting all broody and cranky. I have video of that, but wouldn't even know where to start with getting that up on the forum.

You would have to probably post the video of Clara on Youtube then put the URL up on the forum.

It's moulting season, don't know how young birds go into moult though, unless she is stressed?

Chook kid · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:54 pm

when hens go broody they loose their belly feathers must be to keep the eggs warmer

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Chook kid wrote:

when hens go broody they loose their belly feathers must be to keep the eggs warmer

I found out today that the reason why she is bald is because hens actually pluck their feathers out (from their undercarriage area to soften the nest and make it more 'nesty'.

I kicked her off the nest again today and she just sat on the ground like a lump. Eventually with a bit of encouragement she moved away and mingled with the others but she wasn't too happy.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:02 pm

Chicka-Dee wrote:

found out today that the reason why she is bald is because hens actually pluck their feathers out (from their undercarriage area to soften the nest and make it more 'nesty'.

Eventually with a bit of encouragement she moved away and mingled with the others but she wasn't too happy.

Feathering her nest literally...

Broody hens aren't happy until they have little ones to care for...

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Petite Poulet wrote:

You would have to probably post the video of Clara on Youtube then put the URL up on the forum.

That just sounds way too technical PP. I'll just stick to posting photos. Thanks to you PP I got a program to resize my photos. See learning all the time on this forum.

Hens and Hobbits wrote:

Feathering her nest literally...

Broody hens aren't happy until they have little ones to care for...

I know...I didn't even think of her doing the actual plucking. I thought it must have been associated with the moulting season or stress like PP said.

I would really like to get some fertile eggs to put under her, but her timing could not be worse. With getting a new coop built & winter coming on she's making me scream in my head..."why now".

Anyway...I thank you for all your input. The next thing is to decide whether to move her into another cage & let her be broody & get some fertile eggs or as previously mentioned, move her somewhere less comfortable so she gets over it. I just don't want behavioral issues to arise because I didn't let her stay broody & give her a brood to hatch.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

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