[bumpkins]

Hi all 
I have a lovely little Silver Pencilled Wyandotte Bantam who goes broody at the sniff of an egg.  At other times, Ruby seems to have sorted herself out and is usually soon back outside bombing around with the others.  This time however, she is very determined and I've had to take her out of the coop as I really don't want her health to suffer.  She was sitting on an empty nest and reluctant to eat or drink so I've popped her into a large wire bottomed pet carrier with plenty of food and water. (I really don't want any chicks this year).  It has been two days now and Ruby is still broody!  How long will it take to break her of her broodiness? I hate to see her stuck in a pet carrier for days.
Any ideas/advice much appreciated.

[Womble]

Stupid question I hope, but I take it the pet carrier is raised off the ground somehow?
 
Whenever we've done this, three days has been enough.

[bumpkins]

Yes, it's up off the ground - three days won't be too bad!  thanks 

[HesterF]

The quickest results I've had is simply to put them out in a run by day with nowhere for them to sit/hide i.e. shut out of the house. But going back inside at night can raise it again so it might not work if they're truly dedicated - also not fair if it's raining!

[in the hills]

We have a little pekin who is now on day 5 in a raised wire bottom cage. Still sitting tight! We put the cage out on the lawn where she can see the 'goings-on' .... makes us feel a bit better not sure about her. 

Our pekins are very persistent and takes over a week sometimes. 

[bumpkins]

Ruby will be going outside into a separate run today as the weather is nice.  There's nowhere to shelter there so we've had to wait for a dry day.  She's still determined to hot foot it back to the nest box to sit and be as horrible as possible to everything and everyone! 
I think that I'm goingto have to be prepared to be doing this for a few more days yet. 

[Clansman]

You could always give in and give her some fertile eggs to hatch?

[bumpkins]

Very tempting!  I've been 'banned' from having any more chickens though........

[Clansman]

No problem, i'll send you some quail eggs! 

[bumpkins]

Hmmm!  Not a bad plan..........

[Clansman]

pm me your address and i'll post you a couple of dozen 

[Kimbo]

Novice Class:

why does the pet carrier/cage have to be raised off the ground?

[bumpkins]

Not novice at all Kimbo- we've all been there!
It helps to cool their chests and tummies off which get really hot when they go broody.  This helps to break the broody 'cycle' and their hormones hopefully go back to normal!  Sometimes even this doesn't work the very determined ones....like mine who is now on day 4 of chicken jail.

[Kimbo]

Ahhh! Thank you!
Poor Ruby. I hope her "sentence" ends soon