Broody hens... how do I stop it?

[seanb]

Forgive me if I haven't done enough of a search here; I've done some looking but couldn't find my answer.

One of my 9 hens got broody about two months ago. Then two more in the last few weeks. I don't want any more chickens and don't plan on hatching eggs. I'd prefer that they got their butts out of the boxes as I only have 4 boxes and these girls have three of them occupied full time. I have a ceramic egg in each of the 4 boxes that I suppose I should remove. The first time I removed them after they started laying, a few of them got confused as to what to do since there were no eggs in the box. I saw one of them running in and out of the coop looking like she didn't know where to lay an egg so I placed them back in and she went in and laid.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[folgerrd]

There are many ways to stop broody hens, not all of them work for everyone but here are some of the methods:

1. Dunk their feet in cold water
2. put an ice pack in their nest box
3. put her in a hung up wire cage without bedding

Those are just a few I know of, there are more ways, and I believe there is an article on it in the learning center.