Broody, broody, broody brahma

[Morgank]

Hi!
I see, everybody is concerned about broody hen. But i have only one brahma and she is broody every second month. Now she is sitting probably 30- th day (again) on the wooden egg. She started on december (or november) and so long. There is several problems, she occupies one nest almost 6 year, she changes the nests and crush others eggs because she is big hen (1 year old) I've tried everything- I have closed the nest boxes, raised her to the bar when lights goes on, splashed cold water on the butt. Nothing helps. We have minus degrees at night, so the cold bath is not an option.
We dont have extra place for broody hen or hen with chicks. They are beatuful chickens, but my thinking changed- I don't want any brahmas any more. Other breeds will fallow her and start broody. Is this is behavior because faverolle rooster is on the flock? Should I give up on her?

 

[danceswithronin]

Have you ever let her hatch anything out?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Have you tried a broody breaker wire cage? Wire floor, no bedding, and she should be left in it for at least three days as soon as you see her start to brood.

EDT: And no, the rooster has no effect on whether she goes broody or not.

 

[Morgank]

Have you ever let her hatch anything out?

No, because we dont have extra places for hen with chicks.

 

[Morgank]

Have you tried a broody breaker wire cage? Wire floor, no bedding, and she should be left in it for at least three days as soon as you see her start to brood.

No, because we dont have extra place for it.

 

[Morgank]

No, because we dont have extra place for it.

When we start raise chickens and there is in net everywhere manual how to built a coop. Why its so difficult to say- you need two coops. No, we need several coops. If you buy more chicks- they have to put quarantine, so one coop more. If we want to collect fertilized eggs- this is third coop. And if chickens are broody and they have to put separately- fourth place! I am sorry, i am not angry for you! This is so confusing.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don't want any brahmas any more. Other breeds will fallow her and start broody. Is this is behavior because faverolle rooster is on the flock? Should I give up on her?

It is an individual thing and not because of her breed.

She will brood herself to death because you are allowing it. She is a sitting target for all things parasite... and as stated it's disruptive to the other hens. Broken eggs are an easy way to teach others to become egg eaters.

Put her in a wire bottom breaker, lock her in a room or yard away from ANY nest box with NO material for her to make a nest. If you do either of these things she will "break" for a little while.

Some of my hens who are broody back to back to back EVEN when allowed to raise young simply aren't suited for my flock either. I usually cull by re-homing. And if I couldn't find another home... watch me put her in the soup pot! (more likely enchiladas)

If a wire bottom breaker or other yard space wasn't an option... I might also consider using a tie out... similar to cock fighters, but with a different purpose. I use tie outs on my stags sometimes... so the hens can approach them as desired without extra harassment. This would keep her from being able to occupy a nest. She will be frantic and stressed the whole time trying to get back regardless if you use a tie out or just another sort of confinement.

I agree completely... having a rooster in the flock has zero baring on the broodiness of an individual and even hens with no rooster can be obsessively broody.

No, because we dont have extra place for it.

Either make a place or get rid of her... she isn't working out for your flock, and allowing her to continue sitting with NO chance of pay off is... hindering on passive abuse... no judgement or finger pointing here, JUST trying to paint a picture that tells the whole broody truth.

You and her and the rest of your flock will ALL be happier if she finds a new home or is eliminated from your flock in a humane manner. And YOU don't have to feel guilty that she isn't fitting into your flock and goals! It's awesome that you recognize it and are seeking to make it better. Some homes would LOVE to have a broody. And I love having a broody on occasion, but not the relentless ones.

Please note... barring keeping more than one pure breed... all my birds, new chicks (bought from places that don't require quarantine or NOT bought), broody's, fertilized eggs... all that, ONE coop. And I place my wire bottom dog kennel in that one (large) coop when needed to break a broody. But you ARE correct... it would be easier with a whole compound!

Hang in there!

 

[Melissacoop]

I have a hen that was broody for about 2-3 weeks. I kept on forcing her out of the box twice a day so she could eat and drink. I kept the box empty of the other hens eggs. Just when I was about to confine her to a quarantine cage she started to break on her own. It took about 2-3 days and she lauded an egg. It’s been about a week and she hasn’t payed any more eggs?? She’s still out in the yard with the others but she hasn’t payed any more eggs??
Any thoughts?? I hope she’s not gonna go back to living in the box again?!

 

[Morgank]

I have a hen that was broody for about 2-3 weeks. I kept on forcing her out of the box twice a day so she could eat and drink. I kept the box empty of the other hens eggs. Just when I was about to confine her to a quarantine cage she started to break on her own. It took about 2-3 days and she lauded an egg. It’s been about a week and she hasn’t payed any more eggs?? She’s still out in the yard with the others but she hasn’t payed any more eggs??
Any thoughts?? I hope she’s not gonna go back to living in the box again?!

In my case, chickens start broody again after 3-4 weeks. I have besaide this brahma also other chicken who behaves the same way. She is not pure breed ayam cemani and those two drive me grazy. And this is odd, sulmtaler and favererolle- they have instinct to be broody. I have several hens of this breed, they have never been broody.
I broke brahmas broodiness the same evening as I wrote this topic. I blocked access to the box. I have timer and light goes off 20.45. I sometimes tried to raise her 20.40 out of nestbox. It was pretty hard for me, usually i am in the bed at that time, I wake up at 5 in the morning. (i'm probably too old )