Broody hen ?!?! and what to do now ?!

[RoosterWhisperer]

Regardless (obviously that's my copy/paste "how to break a broody") she needs to be prevented from accessing nesting site of choice. Caging does just that while also keeping cooler air flowing under her belly to break her out of broodiness.

Ahh, yes, I see!
The separation strategy, I've done that, doesn't always work though....
I've also put ice-cubes under naughty brooders!

 

[cher2324]

Or go with it! See what happens! I hatch under my broody Orpingtons all of the time! This could be your chance to add to your flock! I get fertile eggs from a local farm. Call around! There’s a way to do this. Get all of the eggs out of the bush. Keep the girls locked in the coop and run for about two days. Keep putting eggs in one nesting box. Mark the eggs that you are going to put under her with an x. That you’ll consistently keep there.Keep putting eggs in one nesting box. She will gravitate to that box. She will sit there in a trance. Let her do it on her own. She’ll love it! At night go down and get the unmarked eggs (fresh ones). Do this until you can get fertile unwashed eggs. Mark these with the date and make sure they sit unmoved big side up in a carton inside at room temperature for 24 hrs before putting the under her. When you’re ready, If she’s truly broody she will sit on these eggs in the box that you chose. Throw the infertile marked eggs away. If you present her with the egg or leave it in front of her she will roll it under herself. Broody hens are the best because they will raise the chicks and feed them. Keep me posted because I would love to help you. I leave my broody hens in the coop and remove the fresh eggs every day ( the eggs with the date stay under the hen). If your other chickens don’t bother her let her sit there until a week before hatching. Then you move her at night to a brooder box. With her eggs. So much fun! She turns the eggs, keeps the humidity right! Just keep fresh water out. Good luck! Need anything?Please let me know!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I really wish people wouldn't encourage hatching when:

since their coop is so small, not sure if I can afford to get chicks.

OP does not have a plan for more chicks, so should not hatch them.

 

[cher2324]

I go with the broody because I’ve never had success with breaking the broody and I never had the heart to keep her by herself. Plus you can choose the breed you want to introduce. If you place 12 eggs you’ll probably only hatch 6 maybe 8 and three will be Roos. So think about all of your options. Good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ahh, yes, I see!
The separation strategy, I've done that, doesn't always work though....
I've also put ice-cubes under naughty brooders!

I so far have 100% success rate within 3 days doing it this way (even though I don't use an actual cage myself) as I break immediately upon seeing broody behavior. The longer they're allowed to remain broody, the tougher it can be to break.

Ice cubes might be a no go if it's winter, assuming OP is in northern hemisphere?

 

[cher2324]

Sorry! I didn’t realize that the coop was too small. I just love broody hens!