Florence has continued to be broody for longer than I can remember. The chicks are 6 weeks old now, and she was broody before they had their first outside experience, so it must be about 4 weeks. She has been taking care of herself - coming "off" the nest a couple of times a day for a poo, feed, drink, dustbathe and leg stretch, but she's definitely lost weight.
For the last couple of days I have been hoiking her off the nest box many times a day, in the hope she would finally give up. She didn't.
This afternoon I got the broody cage out and set it up in the main run. It's a large Saavic dog crate, and it folds up in seconds. After a couple of hoiks this morning, I finally put her in it, along wth water, feed, a hanging treat feeder and some vegetables. I hate doing it. I checked her every 45 minutes.
Then, after laying her egg this morning, Milly decided to go broody as well. She was in the nestbox (before having laid) when I hoiked FLorence out. I realised soe hours later that she was still on there. She's on day 1 of being broody, as she laid today and then just didn't want to get off the egg. So I ended up putting her in the broody cage with Florence. Good job it's big enough.
I let them both out again at 5.45pm, as I don't really want to make them stay in it overnight if I can avoid it.
I hope they snap out of it, I feel so mean.
For the last couple of days I have been hoiking her off the nest box many times a day, in the hope she would finally give up. She didn't.
This afternoon I got the broody cage out and set it up in the main run. It's a large Saavic dog crate, and it folds up in seconds. After a couple of hoiks this morning, I finally put her in it, along wth water, feed, a hanging treat feeder and some vegetables. I hate doing it. I checked her every 45 minutes.
Then, after laying her egg this morning, Milly decided to go broody as well. She was in the nestbox (before having laid) when I hoiked FLorence out. I realised soe hours later that she was still on there. She's on day 1 of being broody, as she laid today and then just didn't want to get off the egg. So I ended up putting her in the broody cage with Florence. Good job it's big enough.
I let them both out again at 5.45pm, as I don't really want to make them stay in it overnight if I can avoid it.
I hope they snap out of it, I feel so mean.
