broody chicken

[mc3742]

I have been raising chickens for about 10 years. I'm certainly not a serious chicken farmer but I've been doing it a while and enjoy giving eggs to family and friends. Over the years I've had various situations including broody hens. This time I've got a girl that has been laying outside of the coop and I assume that she is somewhere sitting on this nest. I know that they are not fertile because I only have hens. This has been going on for nearly a week. The chickens free range during the day and at night they come home and I close them in. I know that she's still alive because I see her sometimes throughout the day coming home to eat or drink. I've looked everywhere for her new nest but I can't find it. My question is will she eventually come to her senses that these eggs will never hatch and come home?

 

[sourland]

It may take a while. I'd try to box trap her and lock her up.

 

[mc3742]

An update on my broody girl. She had been broody outside of the coop and I couldn't find her. She came home briefly a few days ago as she had done a few times before. This time I was able to catch her. I've got her in solitary confinement [alone in a dog kennel]. How long should I leave her in there? My chickens free range during the day. I'm afraid that because I could not find her clutch she will just go back to those eggs once I release her. Please tell how long to leave her so that she forgets her new nest.