Broody hens, no chics

[giad]

I am very new to this so everyday is a new and exciting experience for me. We purchased a coop and 10 adult hens over the weekend. They're all about 18mo-2 yrs. One of the hens is broody and the woman who sold them to us just kind of told me, she wants to be a mom and she'll peck you if you try to move her. I didn't think anything of it. I just assumed that it will pass. Now there is another one who won't leave the nest. I started reading about it and realized that I should not let this behavior continue. So I just got home from work and pushed them both out of the coop with a pillow. The original broody girl went without much fight, but the other one went absolutely nuts. My daughter shut the door quick before she could go back in, and now she's all puffed up squawking her head off. Should I do something else or just force her out and leave her? I don't have a cage to put her in with a wire bottom. I read that was one method to break the broodiness. I also don't really want to pick her up, She's pretty feisty! Any advice or shared experience would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[Farmer Brian]

Funny you post this, I just came on to post same thing. I have a Buff Orp. that lays in the corner of coop. At first thought she was sick or being picked on, never see her get up to eat or drink. Hasn't laid an egg in weeks. After about 8-9 days, spotted her outside taking dirt bath.
Then back in the corner for a few days. I guess barren hens get broody too?? Is there any harm in letting her do what she wants?

 

[aart]

I am very new to this so everyday is a new and exciting experience for me. We purchased a coop and 10 adult hens over the weekend. They're all about 18mo-2 yrs. One of the hens is broody and the woman who sold them to us just kind of told me, she wants to be a mom and she'll peck you if you try to move her. I didn't think anything of it. I just assumed that it will pass. Now there is another one who won't leave the nest. I started reading about it and realized that I should not let this behavior continue. So I just got home from work and pushed them both out of the coop with a pillow. The original broody girl went without much fight, but the other one went absolutely nuts. My daughter shut the door quick before she could go back in, and now she's all puffed up squawking her head off. Should I do something else or just force her out and leave her? I don't have a cage to put her in with a wire bottom. I read that was one method to break the broodiness. I also don't really want to pick her up, She's pretty feisty! Any advice or shared experience would be helpful. Thank you!

I suggest you get a small wire dog crate and break her broodiness. A crate is great tool for a chicken keeper to have for many reasons.

Also suggest you work on getting over your fear of handling a feisty bird, wear long sleeves and gloves to avoid bloodshed, grab her by holding her wings against her body, one hand on each side and keep their feet from gaining purchase on anything. Stay calm and talk softly and soothingly. They usually will submit when thus restrained and once they realize they won't die when you handle them they will be more easily handled in the future.

Funny you post this, I just came on to post same thing. I have a Buff Orp. that lays in the corner of coop. At first thought she was sick or being picked on, never see her get up to eat or drink. Hasn't laid an egg in weeks. After about 8-9 days, spotted her outside taking dirt bath.
Then back in the corner for a few days. I guess barren hens get broody too?? Is there any harm in letting her do what she wants?

Broody hen don't lay when setting and they should get up every day or two and eat, drink, dust bathe and drop the most ginormous stinky poop you've ever seen ...then back to the nest.


Best to break them of their broodiness right away if you don't want to provide fertile eggs for them to hatch.
If you do want them to hatch, research how to manage a broody hen.

 

[giad]

Thanks for the advice. The original girl snapped out of it after I forced them both out and shut the coop. The other one (the one I'm completely intimidated by) has been much tougher. I removed the second level floor of an outdoor rabbit hutch and replaced it with chicken wire. She'll be raised up in the air with no bedding, but fully covered. It was quite a scene, but I was finally able to catch her and get her in there. I feel very accomplished for getting over my fear! She flew right into my face a few times, and I thought it was more than I could handle. My 4 year old daughter was helping and told me, you're not that good at this. I'm getting better though. Thanks again!

 

[aart]

Thanks for the advice. The original girl snapped out of it after I forced them both out and shut the coop. The other one (the one I'm completely intimidated by) has been much tougher. I removed the second level floor of an outdoor rabbit hutch and replaced it with chicken wire. She'll be raised up in the air with no bedding, but fully covered. It was quite a scene, but I was finally able to catch her and get her in there. I feel very accomplished for getting over my fear! She flew right into my face a few times, and I thought it was more than I could handle. My 4 year old daughter was helping and told me, you're not that good at this. I'm getting better though. Thanks again!

Good for you!!

They can be intimidating, sometimes it's best to grab them at night (<ducks head>-why didn't I tell you that before!?!?!) when they are catatonic.
Key is: always get your hands over both their wings.