Broody Busting

[Stacykins]

How long does it take to break a broody, on average, with the wire bottomed cage method? Since five of my seven hens have been broody, I decided some gotta get back to work laying eggs. I set up a wire bottomed dog crate on cinder blocks with food and water, and added three displeased hens. A little cramped (and I will remove if there is any signs of pecking, but they've been good after 24 hours thus far), but I want these hens unbroodyfied the most.

The cage o broodies


The two I've allowed to remain broody. The one with the yellow saddle is an excellent mother, very attentive (raised her first chick 'til he was eight weeks old, laid eggs for a week or so, and went back to being broody). So she has some eggs under her. The other, I may give her another shot, since she squashed the eggs as they tried to hatch last time.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I wish I could answer that but I've never had to go to that length to do it. It also depends on how determined the hen is. I accidentally broke one by moving her off the nest to collect the unmarked eggs. Another finally gave up after a week or so of sitting on an empty nest (took her eggs away everyday). Another went through 3 sets of eggs before she finally hatched one and left the other half hatched in the nest. I guess she was just so glad to get off that nest. I finished hatching it in the hatcher and gave it back to her.
These are just a few examples. Also be aware that even if you keep them in there, one or more might just go back to sitting. I have also read on this site to dip them in a pan of cold water. I think that's where the phrase MAD AS A WET HEN came from but I'm not sure about that.