Brody hen going on 3 months.

[Necklace]

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.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

You need to break her or give her chicks right now. That's way too long for a hen to be broody and stay healthy. You could lose her.

 

[Necklace]

You need to break her or give her chicks right now. That's way too long for a hen to be broody and stay healthy. You could lose her.

Should I try 2 new chicks and slip them under her at night? I have another Brody that just started sitting this week.. not worried about her she is a baby machine. But I am worried about her hurting the new chicks. What do you ymthibk my odds are. Would feel bad if I bought them just to die from a jelouse hen..

 

[ellend]

Get her out of the nest, into a wire-bottomed cage with air circulation beneath her. This often works. You'll have to keep her in there a while.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

I was told by a local breeder that if you want to put "chicks" under a broody, they have to be less than 24hrs old or she'll reject/harm them.

Something about "new chick" smell.

 

[chickens really]

I would break her in a wire bottom cage.....Up off the ground so her belly cools off.....

 

[Sublight]

I agree with the wire bottom cage. That's a long time for her to be broody, and not eat/drink normally.
Let her reset and try again.
Next time you may fix her up a place to be broody and have access to only one nesting box. Give her food/water close to her. Just don't give her a choice where she sits in wait of the "cheep cheep".

 

[Necklace]

She is kinda a grumpy hen so a wire cage might make her go crazy... my local store is getting some day old chicks 8n a few days.. I might give at least one a try to see if she will come out of the box. :/

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I was told by a local breeder that if you want to put "chicks" under a broody, they have to be less than 24hrs old or she'll reject/harm them.

Something about "new chick" smell.

Not true - it's important for the chicks to be young not just because of the hen, but the chicks. They might not accept a broody hen as their mother.

I would get her a couple chicks and see how it goes.

 

[Sublight]

She is kinda a grumpy hen so a wire cage might make her go crazy... my local store is getting some day old chicks 8n a few days.. I might give at least one a try to see if she will come out of the box. :/

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.