broody chicken

[luzmiila]

people tend to overthink this whole broody breaking thing. It really doesn't have to be that complicated. There is one golden rule and as long as you follow that she will give up in normally about 3 days. I have once had a super determined silkie which took a week.

Here is he golden rule - keep them off the nest 24 hours a day. See not that hard ;-).

If you let her back at night it won't work
If you let her back on and off during the day and just keep taking her off it won't work.
No access at all 24 hours a day for at least 3 days or till she stops running back to the nest when you let her out.

The rest really doesn't matter that much, here is where my last broody spent her time out



No dunking, no cold air and no tiny cages. Just a few tomato stakes and some plastic wire at the end of their run. Worked just the same. She spent her days in there and about 4pm we locked the nest box and let her back in with everybody else to roost for the night.

Thank you so much
My only concern she is not eating (she is eating like a 20% of normal). Today I left all day in their cage and has been on its perch (is 10 :20 am here)

 

[casportpony]

They can do fine eating just a little every day.

-Kathy

 

[luzmiila]

Is 13:00 here. Shee has been in the same position. Sometimes it is thrown into the grass, but when I called her she gets up. She is not like a balloon but still makes strange sounds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's a nice place to be sitting. She's not eating much because she's not moving much, stick with it. My chickens always seem relieved when they are no longer broody and can go back to being normal, be aware some hens will go repeatedly broody, especially during their first laying season.

 

[appps]

Thank you so much
My only concern she is not eating (she is eating like a 20% of normal). Today I left all day in their cage and has been on its perch (is 10 :20 am here)

They can do that for 3 weeks when hatching so three days won't hurt her. She will actually eat more when locked out I've found than on the nest too

 

[luzmiila]

That's a nice place to be sitting. She's not eating much because she's not moving much, stick with it. My chickens always seem relieved when they are no longer broody and can go back to being normal, be aware some hens will go repeatedly broody, especially during their first laying season.

Sorry my bad english .. '' that't a nice place to be sitting ''
I should move her ? or is fine there?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She looks fine there.

 

[NicD]

Our brood-breaking box is simple: a medium-sized plastic dog kennel with a roost bar and a wire mesh rack raised a few inches off the floor. I like it because I can move it by myself and it's easy to keep the box clean.

Also, don't use anything she would be able to use as a nest...no straw or hay. This allows her to "cool" from her hormonal "hot" condition. Spraying with water or dunking is not needed...and may not be good for her to be wet.

Don't worry about her not eating or drinking...a hen sitting on a nest can go a very long time without food or water. I was really worried about the first hen we let hatch chicks! Also, a broody hen can have TERRIBLE smelling poop, so don't worry about that, either.

We did not leave our first brooding hen in the box long enough and she returned to the behavior in less than a week. If this happens, simple return her to the box. She's not going to be happy, but it won't harm her.

 

[luzmiila]

Hi. Now my chicken is fine . No longer broody and eat normal and have a normal comportment, so I let go of the cage. How long will return to lay eggs?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When caught quickly some will resume within two weeks, the others should by a month.