Broody Hens - I’ve tried EVERYTHING

[deviflux]

My gals have always been a broody bunch but this unusually hot summer is unreal. I’ve got 3 broody Buffs. Buff One (the lowest in the pecking order and always easily prone to broodiness) has been broody since early MARCH! I’ve tried everything that worked in the past but she is stubborn and won’t break. Two months ago another Buff joined her. She has never been broody and might be even more stubborn than the first gal. Again, nothing has worked to break it. This week a third Buff joined her. Nothing I am doing is working! My last and only option is to block the nesting area off from ALL my hens, but I’ve been reluctant to turn away and confuse my remaining layers.

HELP! Aside from all the obvious options, what can I do to break this?!

Possibly related question - why do my layers bully my broody hens when I pull them off the nest? They instantly zero in on them, run at them and peck the crap out of them. Is that normal or am I dealing with an out of control pecking order that is causing broodiness?

 

[ShrekDawg]

What all have you tried? Have you tried a wire cage?

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Possibly related question - why do my layers bully my broody hens when I pull them off the nest? They instantly zero in on them, run at them and peck the crap out of them. Is that normal or am I dealing with an out of control pecking order that is causing broodiness?

I pull my broody off her nest (since mid-May) twice a day. Haven't put her in a "broody jail" yet, but I'm about to! Broody hens are in a bit of a stupor for a few minutes after you take them off the nest. If I set her down while she's still in that stupor, they immediately peck and harass her. So.... I take my girl outside, hold her and pet her until the stupor disappears (about a minute), then put her down next to her rooster. I've already thrown scratch out to the flock, so they're preoccupied mostly. She gets some scratch under the watchful eye of her beau. And it goes well, no one bothers her.

Edited to add: I'd give her some eggs to hatch - tried that - but she never stays on the same nest!

 

[deviflux]

I tried separating the first one in a cage early in her broodiness. She refused to eat or drink for 3 days. The weather got too hot so I let her go for her own safety and as soon as I released her, she got attacked and went right back to the nesting box. I’ve tried ice cubes under them, I’ve removed them over and over and they just get attacked when I put them on the ground. I’ve relocated them to the roost after dark and they’re back in the nesting boxes every morning. I’ve blocked off the coop every afternoon, but as soon as I open it back up, they are back in the nesting boxes. Tonight I’m trying to just block them from the nesting box entirely and it’s just causing awful fights.

 

[deviflux]

I pull my broody off her nest (since mid-May) twice a day. Haven't put her in a "broody jail" yet, but I'm about to! Broody hens are in a bit of a stupor for a few minutes after you take them off the nest. If I set her down while she's still in that stupor, they immediately peck and harass her. So.... I take my girl outside, hold her and pet her until the stupor disappears (about a minute), then put her down next to her rooster. I've already thrown scratch out to the flock, so they're preoccupied mostly. She gets some scratch under the watchful eye of her beau. And it goes well, no one bothers her.

I’m glad to know that isn’t unique to my poor girl! She’s always been the bullied one and I’ve been ultra protective of her. I’ve been hoping immersion would snap them out but it sounds like I’m potentially doing more harm than good. Tomorrow I’ll try individually taking them out and socializing with them before I lock them out. Maybe that will do the trick.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I have one hen that goes broody . Last year put in broody jail for 2 days that broke her. This year I tried chicks ... didn't work so hubby dunked her. Broke her in a day

 

[rosemarythyme]

I tried separating the first one in a cage early in her broodiness. She refused to eat or drink for 3 days. The weather got too hot so I let her go for her own safety and as soon as I released her, she got attacked and went right back to the nesting box. I’ve tried ice cubes under them, I’ve removed them over and over and they just get attacked when I put them on the ground. I’ve relocated them to the roost after dark and they’re back in the nesting boxes every morning. I’ve blocked off the coop every afternoon, but as soon as I open it back up, they are back in the nesting boxes. Tonight I’m trying to just block them from the nesting box entirely and it’s just causing awful fights.

So you've only tried caging one bird, once? Or am I misunderstanding?

Caging really is the best technique and you really should've tried it with the other 2 if you haven't. Works best if it's a wire bottom cage that's elevated, and if they're put in immediately after they start trying to set at night times, and persistently - if 2 days doesn't cut it go 3 or 4 or 5. If they won't eat and drink in the cage, fence off a safe area in the run with food and water, let them out briefly to eat and drink, and then back in the cage they go.

Since you mentioned it's hot (and since this has been going on for a prolonged period) it might help to cage them away from the flock for a day or two in a cooler area (that may mean indoors somewhere) as that shouldn't be enough to wreck the pecking order but the change in scenery and temperature might help shock them out of broodiness.

 

[aart]

So you've only tried caging one bird, once? Or am I misunderstanding?

I had the same question.

@deviflux show us your brekaer cage, please.

Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[deviflux]

I’ve only tried caging the one hen because she has been my main focus. She’s been broody since March. I think the other two are following her cue and my hope was if I could snap her out of it, the other two would be easier to break as well.

I tried caging her multiple times for 3 day stretches. She doesn’t touch the food/water I leave for her so I don’t dare leave her in longer. I’m in TN and we’ve had an extremely hot late spring and summer. I worry about her going too long without water.

I can take a picture later, but I have 3 different sizes of metal dog kennels I use for chicken hospital-ing. They all have wire floors. The large one is big enough for all 3 hens, but my concern has been the bullying in a confined space.

 

[SueT]

Caging requires time. Most of my broody hens require 3 days + 3 nights in the wire bottom cage, which is in my basement where it is cooler. This is IF I get them caged right away, as in day 1. I had one that took 5 days.
They have food and water in the cage. I place a little fan blowing directly on the hen. This hen below, has gone broody once a month since April. Three days in jail, and she’s back to normal until next month.....I did let her hatch eggs last year. But I don’t want more chickens at this time.