Vancouver's Leader in Transition toward Strong, Resilient, Complete Communities

Wire-bottomed cage to break a broody?

Hi all,

My Light Sussex hen has gone broody, with naught a fertile egg in sight, poor girl. I'm worried that she'll get really run down as she isn't eating or drinking much.

I've read that keeping her in a wire-bottomed cage suspended for a couple days might break her of her setting. Cages like this seem to be quite expensive at pet stores and our cat kennels are too small.

Does anyone have a wire cage I could borrow for a bit next week? We're out of town Sat. - Wed. but I could pick it up after that.

Thanks so much and happy Thanksgiving all!

Cheers,

-Kristi

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by leanne gypsy on October 7, 2011 at 9:27am

Hey mama, Strange you should post this...our sister-to-yours Light Sussex hen is also not laying. She was laying for a while but mostly shell-less or soft shelled eggs. I thought she was just foraging too much and not enough feed/calcium, but now nothing at all for eggs. And she looks kinda thin.

Does anyone have ideas?

Leanne

Permalink Reply by Kristi Tatebe on October 7, 2011 at 10:13am

Hmm.... my other hen is moulting (feathers all over the place) & not laying - maybe she's moulting too? Our light sussex also had soft-shelled eggs until I gave her more calcium (oystershell), but now she's stopped laying again.

Is she still eating ok though? You could try higher protein feed (scrambled eggs are apparently helpful if she is moulting, as is fish or good quality high-protein dry cat food apparently!).

Hope all 7 of you are well!

Cheers,

-K

RSS

Welcome to
Village Vancouver

Sign Up
or Sign In

Or sign in with:

Village engages individuals, neighbourhoods & organizations to take actions that build sustainable communities & have fun doing it. Join us!