Broody Australorp hen

[JudysMuscovy]

This girl is persistent. I have had her since November of 2016- so she's almost 3 yrs old - she went broody a couple years back. These last two months she's gone broody twice- last month I just kept taking her out of the nest and she'd go back in when I walk away- it took a few times and she finally gave up. She's back at it again. I now put her in the crate with food and water. Gave her a treat last night ( hard boiled eggs) I am just worried about her.
How long will it take to break her.

 

[RWise]

Mine usually break in 3-5 days, I too have a BA that goes broody a lot. Last time I broke her she did not go all the way back. She holds her tail straight up and clucks like she has chicks. She still lays but not as much as she did before, and she has not went broody since.
Another girl, an EE would go broody every 12 eggs, she has a new home. They were excited to have one that would raise chicks for them. She was the only hen that got 100% hatch and survival rate.

 

[vtcath]

My one year old broody B Australorp has gone broody three times this spring. "The chicken chick" wrote a great article about getting her into the "broody breaker" asap saying that the sooner she is off the nest the sooner she can be returned to the flock. And I've had a lot of success with two days being the longest she has been cooped up. I put the pen in the run with the rest of the girls so she not all alone but not near the actual hen house.
I'm counting on her being a good momma next spring. She's a gentle girl until broody and then she becomes tenacious!! and I believe she'll be a fierce protector of her chicks. Fingers crossed...

 

[staceyj]

I wish you luck with her.

Is the crate she’s in, indoors or outside?

I had a very special Orpington who was extremely determined.

The only way I could break her was to put her in a little dog crate and park it right next to the air conditioning floor vent in a bathroom (with the door closed to keep the room chilly).
The first few days she seemed perfectly content to be left alone with tasty room service visits. Then I put a radio in there on the counter on a news channel.
I’d take her outside for potty opportunities and so she and her flockmates could see each other. She finally got tired of being chilly and lonely.
It usually took about 5 solid days.

 

[JudysMuscovy]

I wish you luck with her.

Is the crate she’s in, indoors or outside?

I had a very special Orpington who was extremely determined.

The only way I could break her was to put her in a little dog crate and park it right next to the air conditioning floor vent in a bathroom (with the door closed to keep the room chilly).
The first few days she seemed perfectly content to be left alone with tasty room service visits. Then I put a radio in there on the counter on a news channel.
I’d take her outside for potty opportunities and so she and her flockmates could see each other. She finally got tired of being chilly and lonely.
It usually took about 5 solid days.

I have the crate in the coop she can see the others- they all sleep in the coop at night and use the nesting box in there during the day

 

[JudysMuscovy]

I wish you luck with her.

Is the crate she’s in, indoors or outside?

I had a very special Orpington who was extremely determined.

The only way I could break her was to put her in a little dog crate and park it right next to the air conditioning floor vent in a bathroom (with the door closed to keep the room chilly).
The first few days she seemed perfectly content to be left alone with tasty room service visits. Then I put a radio in there on the counter on a news channel.
I’d take her outside for potty opportunities and so she and her flockmates could see each other. She finally got tired of being chilly and lonely.
It usually took about 5 solid days.

Oh my gosh 5 days.

 

[staceyj]

I have the crate in the coop she can see the others- they all sleep in the coop at night and use the nesting box in there during the day

A lot of people here suggest cooling them down by putting ice packs in or under the nesting box or wherever the hen is pancaked.

They generally pluck the feathers from their breasts and tummies to prepare for skin contact to keep eggs warm and their temperature runs high while Broody, so there is some theoretical advantage to getting her cooled down however you can.
That’s why I gave up and brought her inside to the air conditioning.

 

[JudysMuscovy]

My one year old broody B Australorp has gone broody three times this spring. "The chicken chick" wrote a great article about getting her into the "broody breaker" asap saying that the sooner she is off the nest the sooner she can be returned to the flock. And I've had a lot of success with two days being the longest she has been cooped up. I put the pen in the run with the rest of the girls so she not all alone but not near the actual hen house.
I'm counting on her being a good momma next spring. She's a gentle girl until broody and then she becomes tenacious!! and I believe she'll be a fierce protector of her chicks. Fingers crossed...

Yes! I read that article yesterday. This.girls been this way a few days.. I am hoping she gives up soon.

 

[JudysMuscovy]

A lot of people here suggest cooling them down by putting ice packs in or under the nesting box or wherever the hen is pancaked.

They generally pluck the feathers from their breasts and tummies to prepare for skin contact to keep eggs warm and their temperature runs high while Broody, so there is some theoretical advantage to getting her cooled down however you can.
That’s why I gave up and brought her inside to the air conditioning.

I will give her a day or so and then I will put her in the garage it's got air in there so it will keep her cool

 

[aart]

I have the crate in the coop she can see the others

Is it raised up off the floor? Wetting her belly might help, I assume its hotter than the dickens down there. Some folks use a fan blowing under crate in hot situations. Might want to give her a dose of electrolytes too.

I will give her a day or so and then I will put her in the garage it's got air in there so it will keep her cool

I'd hesitate to do this, drastic temp changes can be a shock to their systems.