Broody Hen

[darbymomma]

We have a Cinnamon Queen, the girls named her Nutmeg, who has become broody. I noticed she was sitting a lot and checked her breasts and she has also plucked all her feathers. For two days i went out every hour to remove her from the nest. I also took all the eggs out as they were laid by our other hens, but she was still going back to sit an empty nest. Today is day three and i have closed the nesting boxes and gave her a cool bath.

We do have an enclosure we use to separate them when needed... is that the next step? Looking for any advice.

 

[sourland]

That is very likely the next step. It will be necessary to not allow access to her chosen nest site.

 

[aart]

We do have an enclosure we use to separate them when needed... is that the next step?

That should be the first step


I like to use a wire crate raised up off the ground.
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 after pic was taken, gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.