Broody hen

[Adula62]

Why do my other chickens try to attack my broody hen when she comes out to eat or drink? My husband and I are trying to break her of being broody. Every time we would go down to the coop we would get her out of the nesting box and then place her in the run…unfortunately she acted scared to death and the other hens would peck her horribly. We now place her in a dog crate with her own water and food and then place her on the perch with the other birds once it’s dark outside. This is day 2 of the crate. Any suggestions?

 

[azygous]

Chickens are supremely annoyed by broody hens. If you take the time to really watch a broody out in the midst of her flock and try to see it from the POV of chickens, broody behavior is downright creepy. Her constant muttering under her breath is creepy and annoying, so why wouldn't chickens show their disapproval?

The only way to break a broody is continual residence in a broody cage with no solid floor, just open mesh that permits air to continually circulate under the hen. This is the only way to interrupt her broody hormones. Only brief periods of breaks outside the cage to stretch her legs, dust bathe, and poop is permitted, then back into the cage she goes. She must remain in the cage all night as well. Even one night on a perch or sleeping in a nest puts her back to square one with those broody hormones.

Staying in the cage day and night, she should be broken in three days and two nights. The test will be when you let her out if she goes right to a nest box and climbs in. If she does that, she needs more time in the cage.

 

[sourland]

Her changed demeanor - the clucking, fluffing up and other behavior changes make her seem like a stranger. As her broodiness breaks she will eventually be accepted back into the flock. Chicken social behavior is sort of like 'mean girls in high school'.

 

[sybonbon]

I have a very mild mannered broody. The other girls do not pick on her even when she takes their eggs and add them to her nesting box. They even climb on top of her and lay their egg on top of her. Lol I never isolated her or put her in a different cage. I just push her out of the nest every time I see her. It takes about a week and then she's back to laying. She is a Black Marans. We renamed her Broody Judy.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I have a Barred Rock hen that has decided to go BROODY.

I take her off the nest every time I go out to see the chickens.

I have watched her on the nest and the way she treats the other hens.

She will reach over in the next nest and peck the chickens.

@aart had suggested to put her in a crate, when I did she was throwing herself into the side of the crate.

I was afraid she was going to hurt yourself so I took her out.

I covered the nesting boxes last night so she could not get into it.

This morning I found her perched on the edge of the nesting box as she could not lay down.

When I went in the coop this morning I put her down and she proceeded to leave to eat and drink.

Yesterday she had a dust bath.

She tries to retake her position in the nest with me standing there.

Any and all help will be appreciated.

 

[aart]

@aart had suggested to put her in a crate, when I did she was throwing herself into the side of the crate.

Sometimes it takes them a bit to calm down.
I give them some scratch grain when I put them in, it can help distract them.

You can also put them in a separate coop/run where there are no nests or bedding.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Sometimes it takes them a bit to calm down.
I give them some scratch grain when I put them in, it can help distract them.
View attachment 3068261

You can also put them in a separate coop/run where there are no nests or bedding.

Is your crate in the coop?

I don't have any real dry areas outside the coop.

What is your suggestion I only have one coop.

 

[aart]

Is your crate in the coop?

Yes.
Not sure what you can do, was just making suggestions.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Yes.
Not sure what you can do, was just making suggestions.

I was elated that you gave me the information.

I fixed the crate like yours in the picture.

Of course she did not like it.

Thank you for all the help.

If you think of anything else please send it to me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

She doesn't have to like it. I put them in and let them complain.

When you say no dry areas, is it because of rain storms? One of my breakers has a roof but if it's raining I kinda want that space for the rest of the flock to use, so rain's always an issue for me when it comes to breaking. Do you have a shed or garage you can put the crate in during the day?