Broody chickens- what to do!

[Kate Lawry]

We have 6 lovely chickens now, one is a barred pekin bantam and one is I think a brahma bantam, the last few days they have gone broody and are spending most of their time in the nest box, all fluffed up! Now we don't have a cockerel and we don't want any more chickens just yet so what should I do to stop them doing this?!
I keep lifting them out and putting them near the food and water, they have some, but then the go straight back in!
Its becoming a full time job watching them to check they are getting enough water!

 

[Goose and Fig]

There are several things you can do to appease them, but I've never had any luck breaking a broody. You can give them some wooden eggs or golf balls to set on, get some fertile eggs for them to hatch, or even pick up some day old chicks from TSC or a feed shop. If you don't mind a few more birds and just want pullets, I'd do that. If you are going to attempt the chick thing, let them set on something for at least a week, and sneak them under her at night. I have had success during the day, but it's less traumatic at night. 'Tis the season!

 

[Kate Lawry]

We only just added 2 new chickens to our group last week so we didn't really want anymore now!
Should I just accept it and leave them be, or should I keep getting them out?

 

[sourland]

Put them in a wire bottomed pen somewhere predators can not get at them. Leave them in this cage for a week or so, and the broodiness should break. Understand that broodiness is natural for both of these bantams, and after they lay a round of eggs, they will go broody again. It's only natural.

 

[bigoakhunter]

Th wire bottomed cage should be where other chickens cannot roost on it. I have a covered run and roped the cage up under the roof. Left broody in the cage for 3 days, with food and water. ( had to wire food dish and waterer to cage as broody would knock them over. After 3 days she cooled off and returned to flock just fine.

 

[Kate Lawry]

So what happens it I just leave them where they are, won't they get over it?

 

[calicokat]

Probably not from what I've heard and read here.

I've had one this way for two weeks, she's plucked out her chest feathers and is wanting to be a mom. I've caved and ordered some fertile eggs - she's more stubborn that I (and that's sayin' somethin'!!)