Broody Hen hogging laying box

[FrontYardChicken111]

Hello all, I have a small flock, four chickens right now laying age they free range on 2 acres and i just leave open the hen house for them to lay, well my jersey giant who has always been the top ranked chicken in the group, has lost her queen status , then suddenly went broody on me. I have noticed though, she is not leaving that box all day, she wont let the others lay in there and of course there's 3 boxed they all want that one she never leaves. She is causing my other 3 to go lay in random places on the property which is not good.. the critters will eat em before i get to. I don't keep roosters here so I wont be able to let her hatch anything so is there a way i can try to discourage this behavior?.

 

[sourland]

She's doing what broody hens do. You'll have to lock her in a cage away from the nest until her broodiness breaks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Broody jail: Put her in an isolation cage with some food and water, in sight of the others (in the coop if it's not too hot or in/near the run is ideal). A wire cage elevated to air flow under her would be the best option, however I've used everything from a brooder to a dog exercise pen.

Keep her in the cage around the clock for about 2 days. At that time, if she's shows fewer signs of broodiness (puffing up, flattening down and growling, tik tik tik noise) you can let her out to test her. If she runs back to the nest at any point (usually they don't do it immediately, but maybe after 15 minutes, maybe an hour) then she's not yet sufficiently broken and needs to go back to the cage for another 24 hours. Then let her out and test her again. Repeat until she's no longer going to the nest box.

IF the isolation cage is not safe for overnight stay (i.e. sits outside the run) then put her on the roost at night, and retrieve her from the nest box the next morning and put her back in the cage. It may take a little longer this way but better than letting a predator get to her.

 

[aart]

I use a crate.

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.
the longer you wait to break her, the longer it might take.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.


I let her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[FrontYardChicken111]

Thank you guys so much! I will try this seperation method and see if it helps. I have a safe place and a large kennel i can keep her in safely without being too cramped . ✌