Broody hen

[Raggedy Henn]

Hi I am brand new to having backyard chickens. Last month I adopted three of my neighbors hens when his flock wouldn’t accept the new girls. There were originally four and were unprotected since the chickens would not let them in their coop. They would roost in one of his trees at night and spend the day in his pasture and in my yard. A predator got one of the girls, so we ran out a got a coop and adopted them so they’d be safe. My neighbor was very appreciative. Anyway…back to my question. One of the hens is broody. She started three days ago. I’ve done a lot of research and saw that it’s best to break them of this. I’ve been taking her off the nest, and giving her treats when I do so. I closed the door to the coop but she’s so unhappy. It’s breaking my heart. Will the added stress harm her in any way? Should I just let her do what nature is telling her to do? I’m so confused. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[Earthdale]

If you want to break her the best way is to put her in a cage and hang it, any way you do it she will be upset though. Why did you decide it would best to break her, do you not want chicks?

 

[Raggedy Henn]

If you want to break her the best way is to put her in a cage and hang it, any way you do it she will be upset though. Why did you decide it would best to break her, do you not want chicks?

I don’t have a rooster. I’m new to being a chicken mom and through all the research I’ve done it seems the consensus is to break her. It’s killing me though. I dont know if I should just let her do what she wants to do. I’m worried that she will get sick if I do. I’m completely lost. I adopted three hens last month. They belonged to my neighbor. He got them from a friend but his hens wouldn’t let them inside the coop and didn’t accept them into their flock. The hens were nesting in my neighbors tree at night and hanging out in his pasture and my yard during the day. One of the hens was taken by a predator, white feathers everywhere, so we ran out and got a coop to keep them safe. They are now ours but I’m learning as I go.

 

[Earthdale]

If the eggs are not fertile she could end up sitting on them indefinitly and get sick, so the best thing to do would be to break her, unless you got her fertile eggs. If you continue to take the eggs away she should lose interest, but the fastest way is the cage.

 

[WallyG74]

Be diligent. It usually don’t happen in just a couple days. The coziness of that nest keeps the hormones going. If you don’t have a cage, put her somewhere with no bedding of any kind. I have an outdoor brooder attached to the coop. When I don’t have chicks, I put broodies in there. Food, water and a roost. Nothing else.

 

[Raggedy Henn]

If the eggs are not fertile she could end up sitting on them indefinitly and get sick, so the best thing to do would be to break her, unless you got her fertile eggs. If you continue to take the eggs away she should lose interest, but the fastest way is the cage.

Ok thank you. I feel so sad for her. I take her out and give her strawberries and apples right away. She loves them. its so hard to watch her walking around the outside of the coop desperately wanting to go in. I am glad she is eating and drinking water during the day. She loves her mealworms also. Lol

 

[Raggedy Henn]

Be diligent. It usually don’t happen in just a couple days. The coziness of that nest keeps the hormones going. If you don’t have a cage, put her somewhere with no bedding of any kind. I have an outdoor brooder attached to the coop. When I don’t have chicks, I put broodies in there. Food, water and a roost. Nothing else.

Be diligent. It usually don’t happen in just a couple days. The coziness of that nest keeps the hormones going. If you don’t have a cage, put her somewhere with no bedding of any kind. I have an outdoor brooder attached to the coop. When I don’t have chicks, I put broodies in there. Food, water and a roost. Nothing else.

she is out in the yard all day but has been going into the nesting box at night. Do I need to keep her from going in there at night?

 

[WallyG74]

If you have a protected place for her. Can you block off the nest some kind of way?

 

[Raggedy Henn]

Be diligent. It usually don’t happen in just a couple days. The coziness of that nest keeps the hormones going. If you don’t have a cage, put her somewhere with no bedding of any kind. I have an outdoor brooder attached to the coop. When I don’t have chicks, I put broodies in there. Food, water and a roost. Nothing else.

She is out in the yard from early am until dusk. I keep the coop door closed. She is in there at night though. Do I need to keep her from going in there at night? I have two other hens so I’m so confused on what to do.

 

[Raggedy Henn]

If you have a protected place for her. Can you block off the nest some kind of way?

I can but then the other two hens do not have access to it. Is it a big deal if they don’t for a few days?