Broody hen 1 month plus

[Shamiira]

Hi all! We have 1 hen who has been broody every month this year. She’s definitely not awful and mean like I’ve seen other speak of but she stays in the coop and doesn’t tend to come out and do chicken things.

Usually I put her in a wire dog kennel for a few days (I let her out after everyone is done laying and I’ve closed the coop up and then I put her on the roosting bars with everyone else once it’s bed time). This has always worked previously but this time that didn’t do any good even after 10 days.

I switched to locking her in the shed with the light on while everyone lays and then lock up the coop before I let her out with everyone else in the afternoon. I switched to this as we headed out camping and it was easier for my mom. (We took part of the shed for the coop so it isn’t like she’s completely isolated during this time.) I pick up the nesting boxes but she will also just lay where they should be. She was even just laying in the shavings under the roosting bars so I took that out for now too. It’s been over a month and she’s still just as broody. Any suggestions? Thank you so much for any guidance in advance!

 

[SmiYa0126]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive we need help for this one, how skinny is she?

 

[Shamiira]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive we need help for this one, how skinny is she?

I’ve actually never weighed her. I do put her out with everyone multiple times a day lately and she eats and drinks a little each time. She definitely feels lighter than before but I’m unsure how to tell how thin she really is. These are our first chickens.

 

[Shamiira]

Ok,

I’ve actually never weighed her. I do put her out with everyone multiple times a day lately and she eats and drinks a little each time. She definitely feels lighter than before but I’m unsure how to tell how thin she really is. These are our first chickens.

I looked up how to tell if she’s thin and I think she’s good actually! Both sides of her breast bone have rounded muscle. It doesn’t sink in and there isn’t a crazy amount of breast bone either.

She is our smallest chicken and honestly, only the lavender Orpingtons like to be held (but not in summer) and they weigh a lot more! I don’t know her breed; she’s a mix of several that lays blue eggs.

I attached a couple photos that might help. She has LONG feathers! This was right after I put her out to be a chicken with everyone else. She ate, drank and rolled in the dirt like she does every time I make her go be a chicken with everyone else.

 

[SmiYa0126]

She should feel heavy for her size.

 

[texsuze]

Over the years I've had the one or two hens that stayed on Broody Planet for extended periods of time, sometimes up to 6 weeks. Personally, I don't try to 'break broody', since by the time they're confirmed, there has usually been too much time that has passed to put them in 'broody prison'. My girls, too, have never attacked me during their broody phases. I pick them up at least twice a day and put them in the run or in the barn or out to free-range. I make sure they have time with food/water/treats in front of them. They might stay out a few minutes or several minutes. They might dust bathe or might run around for a short time. It doesn't matter to me. Since I don't expect or demand routine egg production I just let nature take its course. They always manage to depart the Broody Planet! Just my opinion.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Our continuous broody -- broody once a month and takes six days to break. We have her elevated in the run/pen in a wire crate on 4x4s with a fan. She has gotten a little better at not pecking us as I constantly mess with her. This time we are going to attempt to give her eggs and see if that helps calm her a bit.

I have heard of some doing a semi bath for their bellies? To cool them off? Have even heard of a car ride (haven't tried it yet haha)

Good luck

 

[Shamiira]

Over the years I've had the one or two hens that stayed on Broody Planet for extended periods of time, sometimes up to 6 weeks. Personally, I don't try to 'break broody', since by the time they're confirmed, there has usually been too much time that has passed to put them in 'broody prison'. My girls, too, have never attacked me during their broody phases. I pick them up at least twice a day and put them in the run or in the barn or out to free-range. I make sure they have time with food/water/treats in front of them. They might stay out a few minutes or several minutes. They might dust bathe or might run around for a short time. It doesn't matter to me. Since I don't expect or demand routine egg production I just let nature take its course. They always manage to depart the Broody Planet! Just my opinion.

I appreciate this! I don’t expect them to always lay or anything either.

 

[Shamiira]

Our continuous broody -- broody once a month and takes six days to break. We have her elevated in the run/pen in a wire crate on 4x4s with a fan. She has gotten a little better at not pecking us as I constantly mess with her. This time we are going to attempt to give her eggs and see if that helps calm her a bit.

I have heard of some doing a semi bath for their bellies? To cool them off? Have even heard of a car ride (haven't tried it yet haha)

Good luck

We did try the cool bath too which didn’t work any better than taking her out of the coop. We’re considering getting her some 1 day old chicks since she’s been broody so long already I didn’t think eggs were the best idea in case she decides suddenly that she’s done being broody.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get a close photo of her left eye?

Does she act broody, screech/scream/puff up, etc.?

I assume she's not laying eggs.

I'd check her over for lice/mites, make sure her crop is emptying.

Does she seem to be more active early and late when the lighting/sun is not so bright or does she stay more in shaded areas?