Broody Barred Plymouth Rock.

[jnicholes]

This has been happening for weeks, and to be honest, I’m a little bit concerned. Let me explain.

One of my hens went broody. To be completely honest, I don’t know if she’s eating or drinking. She’s not leaving the nesting box.

Every time I pick her up, I feel around her breast area, and there are some feathers missing.

I don’t have a rooster, so the eggs are not fertilized. She doesn’t know they’re not going to hatch. However, I’m concerned about two things.

First, I’m concerned that she’s not eating and drinking. I haven’t confirmed this, though.

The second thing I’m worried about is I’m wondering if she’s preventing other hens from laying. I’ve been getting less eggs lately.

Can someone please recommend me something that will help me deal with this broody hen?

 

[sourland]

Brooding can be debilitating to a hen. I'd lock her away from her nest site (think dog crate) until her broodiness breaks. No, she's not preventing other hens from laying, but they may have established a hidden nest somewhere.

 

[jnicholes]

 

[jnicholes]

Brooding can be debilitating to a hen. I'd lock her away from her nest site (think dog crate) until her broodiness breaks. No, she's not preventing other hens from laying, but they may have established a hidden nest somewhere.

Just saw your post. I do have an old dog crate I can use, but isn’t that a little inhumane keeping her confined like that, even temporarily?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Fluff those hackles!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Just saw your post. I do have an old dog crate I can use, but isn’t that a little inhumane keeping her confined like that, even temporarily?

Just my opinion, but I think it’s perhaps inhumane to allow a broody to keep sitting on dud eggs, damaging her health (less eating, less water, less exercise) for absolutely no reason.

“Breaking” is kind of a terrible word, jarring and off-putting, but extended broodiness is very hard on a hen.

 

[sourland]

Just saw your post. I do have an old dog crate I can use, but isn’t that a little inhumane keeping her confined like that, even temporarily?

What's more inhumane, Caging her to break her broodiness or allowing her to debilitate herself to the point of illness or death? Locking her away from her nest site if you have the pens/space can help break her broodiness. You could always get her some chicks to raise.

 

[jnicholes]

Just my opinion, but I think it’s perhaps inhumane to allow a broody to keep sitting on dud eggs, damaging her health (less eating, less water, less exercise) for absolutely no reason.

“Breaking” is kind of a terrible word, jarring and off-putting, but extended broodiness is very hard on a hen.

I see your reasoning. I’ll have to pull out the dog crate and see if that will help “break the broodiness.“

What's more inhumane, Caging her to break her broodiness or allowing her to debilitate herself to the point of illness or death? Locking her away from her nest site if you have the pens/space can help break her broodiness. You could always get her some chicks to raise.

I see what you mean.

Thank you both.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Just my opinion, but I think it’s perhaps inhumane to allow a broody to keep sitting on dud eggs, damaging her health (less eating, less water, less exercise) for absolutely no reason.

“Breaking” is kind of a terrible word, jarring and off-putting, but extended broodiness is very hard on a hen.

100% agree. My entire flock is made up of birds that will likely go broody, and there's no rooster or fertile eggs in sight. We'll have an area with broody cages to break anyone that needs it.

 

[jnicholes]

You could always get her some chicks to raise.

Hold on a second, are you suggesting I get some fertilized eggs and just have her sit on them? Wouldnt the other chickens try to attack the chicks when they hatch?

How does that work?