Broody ruckus in henhouse

[Gopeckgo]

I have 3 austrolorp hens year old, 2 think they are moms all of a sudden and are fighting over the nest box don’t even want to leave for their morning oatmeal. I have 3 boxes but they only lay in 1. They were getting along fine now it sounds like a fox snuck in the place. What’s all the fuss and will they work it out?

 

[Gopeckgo]

I have 3 austrolorp hens year old, 2 think they are moms all of a sudden and are fighting over the nest box don’t even want to leave for their morning oatmeal. I have 3 boxes but they only lay in 1. They were getting along fine now it sounds like a fox snuck in the place. What’s all the fuss and will they work it out?

No roos by the way so they are not hatching anything!

 

[DobieLover]

I have 3 austrolorp hens year old, 2 think they are moms all of a sudden and are fighting over the nest box don’t even want to leave for their morning oatmeal. I have 3 boxes but they only lay in 1. They were getting along fine now it sounds like a fox snuck in the place. What’s all the fuss and will they work it out?

You need to lock them up in elevated wire dog crates with food and water and NO BEDDING for three days and nights to break their broodiness. If they haven't snapped out of it after three days/nights, stick them back in their crates for another day and night and try again.
If they are fighting like this I would not crate them together. They could seriously injure each other.

 

[Gopeckgo]

Thank you for the suggestion. Do they have to be wire crates? I will see what I can find.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I finally got rid of my broody Blue Wyandottes, but still have 2 Columbians that go broody. The one who is broody now is a mess. It took me 4 weeks to break her last year. I am brooding chicks in the coop & she's nuts. When I let her out of the cage, she & another hen go at it like roosters every day. She is the aggressor & I'm ready for her to go also.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for the suggestion. Do they have to be wire crates? I will see what I can find.

That would be ideal but they can be broken in enclosures with a floor. It may take longer or may not work as well (especially if they've already been sitting a while).

 

[Lor]

Thank you for the suggestion. Do they have to be wire crates? I will see what I can find.

I think the point of using wire crates is to cool off their bottoms.

 

[aart]

I think the point of using wire crates is to cool off their bottoms.

Yes.