Broody Hen - still sitting on an empty nest for 4 weeks!

[Canine and Co]

Any advice grateful received.

I have a cream leg bar that showed some broodiness about 4 weeks or so ago. I moved all eggs, hoping this would break the cycle, however she continues to sit every day, all day on an empty nest! She comes out once a day for food etc, but goes straight back to her empty nest.

I tried blocking up the nest - but she went to the one next to it instead and carried on with her behaviour.

I am unsure where to go from here! I'd like her to get back to joining the rest of the hens outside and laying her eggs again!

Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

Have you tried locking her in a dog kennel for a few days to cool off?

 

[Quaen]

Any advice grateful received.

I have a cream leg bar that showed some broodiness about 4 weeks or so ago. I moved all eggs, hoping this would break the cycle, however she continues to sit every day, all day on an empty nest! She comes out once a day for food etc, but goes straight back to her empty nest.

I tried blocking up the nest - but she went to the one next to it instead and carried on with her behaviour.

I am unsure where to go from here! I'd like her to get back to joining the rest of the hens outside and laying her eggs again!

Thank you!

She sounds too far gone. You would have to break her in an elevated dog crate. Usually, elavating a dog crate on some bricks work. That way you create airflow under her and help her to release her hormones. Being broody for too long can cause several issues. She will probably molt once she is broken as well. It may take a good while for her to be broken. Keep her locked in the crate (placed in the coop), and provide water and food. You can let her out after a few days and if she goes straight to the nesting box, place her right back in her broody breaker, until she is broken.

 

[Iluveggers]

If you have room for a few chicks, you could buy a couple, and slip them under her at night. IF she accepts them, she’ll get off the nest to raise them & hopefully eat & drink. Breaking her now might take awhile & being broody this long can cause issues.

 

[Canine and Co]

Have you tried locking her in a dog kennel for a few days to cool off?

I haven’t - I heard about that (or putting a cold water bottle in her nest). I’ll give it a go thank you. X

 

[aart]

Have you tried locking her in a dog kennel for a few days to cool off?

I haven’t

The only way to go, IMO.

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(1x2) on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor,
gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.

 

[Canine and Co]

If you have room for a few chicks, you could buy a couple, and slip them under her at night. IF she accepts them, she’ll get off the nest to raise them & hopefully eat & drink. Breaking her now might take awhile & being broody this long can cause issues.

I missed the opportunity as one of my hens had a chick about 5 weeks ago! But it was just the one.

The only way to go, IMO.

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(1x2) on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor,
gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.
View attachment 2817427

Thank you so much for the advice/pic etc! I will definitely give this a go as I can't find any other solution at the moment!

 

[Canine and Co]

She sounds too far gone. You would have to break her in an elevated dog crate. Usually, elavating a dog crate on some bricks work. That way you create airflow under her and help her to release her hormones. Being broody for too long can cause several issues. She will probably molt once she is broken as well. It may take a good while for her to be broken. Keep her locked in the crate (placed in the coop), and provide water and food. You can let her out after a few days and if she goes straight to the nesting box, place her right back in her broody breaker, until she is broken.

Thank you - I need to give this a go! I feel bad - but it is better for her health if I do this! Best wishes

 

[3KillerBs]

@aart's advice is sound. I've had to break one of my hens three times this summer and built this Outdoor Broody Breaker based on that information.

 

[Canine and Co]

UPDATE:

I put my girl in an elevated dog crate as a few of you suggested and let her out after 2 days! This worked, broke the cycle and she has stopped nesting!

Thank you all for your advice - much appreciated!

x