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[Mandied]

Is there anything you can do for a broody hen?? Today has been the first time one of my hens has pecked at my husband when he went to get the egg. After she layed it she stayed in the nesting box and wouldn't get off the egg.

 

[fluffycrow]

A video would be very helpful. I've had many hens do that to me, never went broody.ive even had some puff up when I approached the roost they were sleeping on. Still no broody

 

[SueT]

If the hen is broody, and you don’t want her to hatch eggs, you can break the broody cycle by putting her in a wire bottom cage for 3 days and nights. Sometimes only 2 days, sometimes more, depending upon how long she’s been broody.
What breed/age is your hen, and how long has she been broody?

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x @SueT ... Broody Jail = wire cage with wire bottom, suspended (air flow all the way around) with food & water for at least 3 days .... Some take longer and may need repeat jail time. Some breeds "broody" prone.

 

[Isabella7Storm5]

If the hen is broody, and you don’t want her to hatch eggs, you can break the broody cycle by putting her in a wire bottom cage for 3 days and nights. Sometimes only 2 days, sometimes more, depending upon how long she’s been broody. View attachment 3413173
What breed/age is your hen, and how long has she been broody?

2x @SueT ... Broody Jail = wire cage with wire bottom, suspended (air flow all the way around) with food & water for at least 3 days .... Some take longer and may need repeat jail time. Some breeds "broody" prone.

this has worked for me many times. I highly recommend

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

When breaking a broody, I use the ice pack method .

 

[fluffycrow]

If you're sure she's broody, the dog kennel method is the best IMO

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agree about a breaker crate, however you didn't mention if you want her to hatch or not.

Assuming you do not plan on hatching/having her raise chicks, then yes breaking her would be easier on you and the flock.

 

[630004]

Broody jail. Hopefully the hen get's over it pretty quickly. Alternativly eat it and get another hen.

We had an Austrolop that would go broody every month. After the third time in broody jail she got made into a delicious Coq a Vin.

 

[aart]

Some birds will peck when trying to take an egg from underneath them.

Here are my go to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

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