Brody hen going on 3 months.

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Either break her or give her chicks, but I would not let her be broody for three more weeks. You really could lose her. It actually happens.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Hello.. I am having a problem with one of my hens.. she has been Brody for at least 3 months.... she will not hatch any eggs because she keeps switching nest boxes :/

Any suggestions?

I have even thought of buying a few chicks and slipping them under her at night.. I feel so bad for her.

That depends, do you want chicks, and do you have a rooster. If you do, let her incubate them. They usually do a better job than we do.

 

[chickens really]

Your Broody needs a break...Either try two newly hatched Chicks or break her...A Broody will not care if you put her in a small wire crate if she is setting...Sure she will be cranky when you move her..Put on gloves and pop her in...Should take about 5 days and she will be normal again...Her health is at risk after 3 months if she has become thin?...

 

[Then I Will]

It can be hard to watch a broody pacing in a cage and clucking angrily about not being able to get back to her nest, however, you have to realize that breaking her of her broodiness is what is best for her at this time. Once she recovers, she will have another chance at hatching eggs later in the year. In my experience with broodies, being able to hatch a clutch seemed to temper their desire to go broody in the future. They actually would only go broody once to twice a year instead of five to eight times a year.

that being said, not all broodies make good mothers. I had one desperate broody I finally let raise a clutch and she cannibalized some of the eggs before they hatched, by eating the egg shell off the egg. I assumed at first this was due to lack of proper nutrition, but I had been disturbing her every couple of days when she would not get off the nest on her own to poop, eat, and drink. Once the chicks hatched, I realized she had a real problem with cannibalizing her brood and I swore never to let her try it again. She was pooping on the eggs in the nest, and I had to clean some of the eggs off from the rotting chick that had had its shell eaten off of it. Once the surviving eggs hatched out, she didn't want much to do with them, stepped on them, and marched about in a daze without teaching them to eat.
She really wont have her feelings hurt for long if she is locked in a cage for a few days until it passes. I learned my lesson. Don't feel too bad for every broody hen. Not all really want to be mother. Some are just hormonal.

Best of luck to you,

 

[Necklace]

Its up to you, but this is common practice for breaking broody chickens. Its how my dad did it when i was a young boy. She would be ok. But it all comes down to you, because its your girl.

Of course as a alternitive, go find someone with "yard eggs" and ask if they are fertile. Ask for a half dozen or so and let her sit them. She will hatch and raise them. Just use craigslist and give them away. It may be fun to see the silly little bitties running around for a few weeks.

I have 3 roosters so the eggs have no problem getting fertile... she just will not stick to one nest.. she will sit on one for about a week then suddenly change to another box.. she is driving me nuts... :/

 

[Sublight]

I have 3 roosters so the eggs have no problem getting fertile... she just will not stick to one nest.. she will sit on one for about a week then suddenly change to another box.. she is driving me nuts... :/

Oh that's right, I forgot that detail. Did you consider penning her up so she cant change boxes?

 

[Then I Will]

I have 3 roosters so the eggs have no problem getting fertile... she just will not stick to one nest.. she will sit on one for about a week then suddenly change to another box.. she is driving me nuts... :/

Perhaps another more dominant hen is driving her from her box?

 

[Sublight]

Perhaps another more dominant hen is driving her from her box?

That's a good idea.

 

[Necklace]

That's a good idea.

That might be possible.. I do have a dom hen that is now sitting on her 3rd clutch.. but I have not seen her move or show any aggression to the other hen..

I did try sneaking in a 2 day old chicks but even at night she went nuts on me.. tore my hand up.. she is a very aggressive hen.. might be good she does not hatch.. but it looks like she is going to sit the rest of her life in a nest box.

 

[Sublight]

That might be possible.. I do have a dom hen that is now sitting on her 3rd clutch.. but I have not seen her move or show any aggression to the other hen..

I did try sneaking in a 2 day old chicks but even at night she went nuts on me.. tore my hand up.. she is a very aggressive hen.. might be good she does not hatch.. but it looks like she is going to sit the rest of her life in a nest box.

I went to pick up my silkies a week or so ago. He had a silkie that has been broody for 8 months, or so he said. She has been sitting on nothing for 8 months.