Broody Hen

[CJP]

I have an australorp just like this - She's 3 weeks past abandoning her last chick (who is now 8 weeks old), and the tart is broody again. I've never managed to break her broodiness yet, despite trying many different ways!. I've just given her 12 eggs to hatch and after that I'm going to rehome her, as I simply don't need a super-broody hen. I'd rather pass her on to someone who will use her broody mothering nature, and good mama skills to raise chicks, rather than constantly be trying to 'break' her.

That’s my next move if the frequency of her brooding continues....it fairer on all of us especially her

 

[CJP]

In my experience you must disrupte the broodiness cycle as early as possible to avoid prolonged broodiness. What usually works for me is putting the broody hen in a dark place , maybe try covering the 'jail' with a blanket? that might quiet her down

First sign of bloodiness and she is jailed. I don’t even allow her time to even think of sitting on nest. Usually I break her within a few days but this time it’s nearly a week already and she is still making the broody noises. Let’s hope tomorrow morning it’s stopped

 

[EggWalrus]

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[IdyllwildAcres]

Is "pre-broody" a thing? My girl is trying to sleep in the nest box, sitting on any eggs she can get under her, all puffed up and clucky yet she is still laying eggs every other day or so which is her pattern. I have been pulling her out of the next box and putting her on the roost at night, during they day when I pull her out she sits on the floor of coop all puffed up but if I have opened up the coop she will go outside.

Gary

 

[chickengr]

I put the broody hen overnight in another place and by the morning she didn't want to sit any more. in the afternoon she went back to her flock. she is still clucking but away from the nest box.

 

[lomine]

Is "pre-broody" a thing? My girl is trying to sleep in the nest box, sitting on any eggs she can get under her, all puffed up and clucky yet she is still laying eggs every other day or so which is her pattern. I have been pulling her out of the next box and putting her on the roost at night, during they day when I pull her out she sits on the floor of coop all puffed up but if I have opened up the coop she will go outside.

Gary

If she is truly broody she won’t be laying at all. Once they have the number of eggs they want then they sit. Is this her first time? Could be her hormones are kicking in but she’s not really sure what to do.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

If she is truly broody she won’t be laying at all. Once they have the number of eggs they want then they sit. Is this her first time? Could be her hormones are kicking in but she’s not really sure what to do.

Yes first time, she is acting broody but she layed an egg two days ago, due for another soon.

Gary

 

[eggciting eggs]

I know you can buy fertilized eggs at myperfectchicken.com, mabye if you buy her a couple of them and slip them under hershe can take care of the eggs and let her raise them she should stop being broody from my experience. plus, you get to see chicks hatch witch is always fun and you can sell them and make a prophit off of her broodyness.

 

[CJP]

I have an australorp just like this - She's 3 weeks past abandoning her last chick (who is now 8 weeks old), and the tart is broody again. I've never managed to break her broodiness yet, despite trying many different ways!. I've just given her 12 eggs to hatch and after that I'm going to rehome her, as I simply don't need a super-broody hen. I'd rather pass her on to someone who will use her broody mothering nature, and good mama skills to raise chicks, rather than constantly be trying to 'break' her.

 

[CJP]

Thanks everyone. As you can see Scully has finally been broken and enjoying an early morning dig through compost pile. I will keep you updated on her