Broody Hen

[CJP]

Valid question but She is definitely broody I have lived with chickens as pets since I was little. She is making all the noises fluffing herself up and getting defensive when you go near her. She stops eating and drinking and if I let her out of her prison she will go straight to nesting box and sit even if no eggs there. I think she still lays because I don’t allow her to sit on eggs and it keeps her egg production going. First signs of brooding and she is caged immidiatly. The only time she stopped laying for a few weeks was when I left her too long to cage her.

 

[CJP]

Most will say to put her in a small cage. I've never done that, and have broken broody hens by removing them from the nest anytime I'm at the coop and taking them off so that they have to walk back. Not very efficient, but it eventually worked. This year I plan to simply block off the nests at night so that they will have to roost then.

 

[CJP]

I tried that the first time but it was creating hen fights as she wouldn’t let them near boxes. Sometimes I feel really sorry for her so when a few have laid I will lock the remaining chooks in the smaller run so they can lay and let her and the ones that have layed stay in the bigger run. I close off nesting box at night and go out around 6 in morning to cage her and reopen nesting boxes for the others and start the daily routine all over again.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Most will say to put her in a small cage. I've never done that, and have broken broody hens by removing them from the nest anytime I'm at the coop and taking them off so that they have to walk back. Not very efficient, but it eventually worked. This year I plan to simply block off the nests at night so that they will have to roost then.

This won't work. If a hen is actually brooding she'll just sit in the litter on the bottom of the coop. The reason a cage works well and in short time is your denying them any hope of nesting. I've broken broods by putting them in separate run with small coop and keep coop door closed all day. With multiple birds brooding at once it was the only way to manage. Open the door for them at dusk and don't have any litter in there, let them out in morning and close door again. This works just like a cage in breaking a bird completely in three days. Caveat being there isn't any area in run that's remotely able to be used as nest.

 

[CJP]

My girl is very determined. As you can see by photo she cannot nest. I am on day 5 and she is still as broody as ever

 

[red horse ranch]

My girl is very determined. As you can see by photo she cannot nest. I am on day 5 and she is still as broody as ever

I looked at the picture again. I feel sorry for the poor girl. She's got it and got it bad!

 

[CJP]

I looked at the picture again. I feel sorry for the poor girl. She's got it and got it bad!

 

[CJP]

Yeah my poor Scully girl. Everyone has been very helpful. Looks like I’m doing everything possible. Time will tell and in the mean time I will have to keep on keeping on with her eventually she might catch on that it’s just not going to happen

 

[Peaky]

After all that...I’d give her what she wants and let her brood. I’ve never had the heart to break a broody hen. Others may disagree with me though, depends on what you want from your flock

I agree. Just let her sit in the box. Not sure it makes much difference. She'll be happy.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Why do you think she is broody if she is laying eggs?

Broody chickens lay eggs until they are satisfied with the amount they have to hatch... When they are brooding, they stop.