Broody & Tough to Break! And, no eggs post-molt

[ValerieNelson]

Good morning! I've read lots of the posts about breaking a broody hen, and we built a broody buster box with wire mesh bottom a year or so ago based on recommendations from this forum. Last year it worked perfectly... this year I'm having trouble breaking a brooder.

She is a 3 year old Comet, about month ago began sitting much more than usual but she would still come out of the coop so I didn't think she was broody. Maybe I ignored it longer than was wise? Now, I've had her in solitary for over a week and she is still puffed up and cranky. I tried three days, then opened the box and she ran right back to the nesting box, so back in solitary for 3 more days. I tried yesterday to let her out again, and straight back to the nesting box.

Any other ideas? I read feed yogurt somewhere? Help!

While I'm seeking your help... my two Comets were my best layers. The broody one isn't laying now obviously, but my other one hasn't laid an egg since a very chilly February molt. They are young, so I expected eggs for years! Any thoughts on this? I know they aren't laying because my other hens are Rhode Island Reds and they all lay a medium egg. The Comets always laid an extra large to jumbo... and an occasional double-yolker!

Thanks!
Valerie

 

[DianaMallory]

I watched a video on Youtube about this and they put the hen in a bath. They also said that some think this is cruel and inhumane but the hen they did was calm and took it in stride. She didn't look stressed to me. Here is the link to that video.

 

[ValerieNelson]

Diana, I think the bath did it!

I filled a wheelbarrow with enough water, and held her in up to her chest for about 4 minutes. She didn't love it, but didn't fight or bite. Her feathers went down for the first time in weeks, it seems. When I let her out, she ran to join the flock in their forage place under the barberry and not back into the coop. Now, 1+ hours later, she's still outside scratching and pecking, and acting like a normal not-broody chicken.

My plan is to reinforce the normal behavior today with a few treats, and hope for the best!

Now, if anyone has any insight on my Comet that hasn't laid since pre-molt in January, I'll appreciate it!

Thanks,
Valerie

 

[aart]

'Comets' are hybrid high production birds, they lay like gangbusters the first 1-2 years then production can drop off dramatically.
They rarely go broody tho....and I'm wondering if you really have a Comet.

Do you free range? They could have a hidden nest...coop em up for a few days and see .