I'm pretty sure I have a broody hen. She has plucked all of her breast feathers out, and is sitting on everything and fluffing out: in the yard, on top of the hen house, in the nesting boxes, etc. She fluffs out and fusses at me if I try to get near her. This is the weird part: she's still eating, drinking, and laying regularly. In fact, she ran to me to eat some treats today, and I've seen her going for a drink of water several times. Should I still try to break her by putting her into a wire cage? Also, I've heard you can dunk her bottom in cool water. I'm worried about doing this, because it seems a bit cold (in the 30s). Any advice appreciated!
If you are wanting to hatch out chicks this is what I do. I wait several days to make sure that she is going to sit. When she get very irritated at my placing my hand under her to move her off the next , I place the eggs and begin the wait. They will get off to eat, drink and stretch. If you are not wanting chicks you will probably need to do the wire bottom cage to cool her off.
