Broody hen needs to stop, but how?

[Frindizzle]

I have two broody hens, and I have tried so many ways to break the broodiness but I can not! Collecting ideas, thanks so much!

 

[Judy]

A boody cage is probably your best bet. Leave her til she lays an egg, if she is stubbotn and returns to broodiness when you remove her.

Of course the best cure is to let her hatch a few chicks.

There are lots of threads about this here. Here is an article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/encouraging-or-discouraging-broodiness-in-your-hens

 

[memphis]

Going through the same thing with my Barnevelders! Tried the broody cage, even used a fan. Also tried cool baths. Even put ice cubes under her! Nothing worked. After several weeks she gave up. Now her sister is doing the same thing. They are like little broody zombies sitting on nothing....i take any eggs out from under them. I take them out of the box a few times a day & make sure they eat something.

 

[colinb]

I've got two barnies and one marran they are taking turns at sitting I've let one hatch two chicks and one is sitting on 14eggs I've got one in a cage ??? Seems I'm stuck in a loop of broody hens.the rest of the flock are laying whenever they want I'm just letting mother nature take over.

 

[Frindizzle]

Going through the same thing with my Barnevelders! Tried the broody cage, even used a fan. Also tried cool baths. Even put ice cubes under her! Nothing worked. After several weeks she gave up. Now her sister is doing the same thing. They are like little broody zombies sitting on nothing....i take any eggs out from under them. I take them out of the box a few times a day & make sure they eat something.

It looks like we have the same problem

 

[Frindizzle]

A boody cage is probably your best bet. Leave her til she lays an egg, if she is stubbotn and returns to broodiness when you remove her.

Of course the best cure is to let her hatch a few chicks.

There are lots of threads about this here. Here is an article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/encouraging-or-discouraging-broodiness-in-your-hens

Judy, that article really helped! The reason I do not let her do it is last time she was broody we gave her 4 eggs and on the 13th day, she ate the eggs so the chicks died

 

[Frindizzle]

I've got two barnies and one marran they are taking turns at sitting I've let one hatch two chicks and one is sitting on 14eggs I've got one in a cage ??? Seems I'm stuck in a loop of broody hens.the rest of the flock are laying whenever they want I'm just letting mother nature take over.

Colinb, that is a bummer! Not many eggs to take for yourself, right?

 

[Judy]

. I take them out of the box a few times a day & make sure they eat something.

That's what I usually do. Actually, I do this even if they are sitting on eggs I expect to hatch.

Judy, that article really helped! The reason I do not let her do it is last time she was broody we gave her 4 eggs and on the 13th day, she ate the eggs so the chicks died

Well, its possible she simply cleaned up the nest of chicks who had died in the shell, as their instinct tells them to do. I had one kill a chick as it hatched -- sometimes their instincts are just wired wrong, I guess. At least it stopped the broodiness.

 

[Frindizzle]

Hmm, Judy you are probably right.

 

[Frindizzle]

Thanks everyone! I forgot to tell you she is not broody, along with 3 other hens that were. Thanks!