Broody twice in one summer?

[dunnmom]

Hi! My BO went broody twice in one summer. Once in June, and now is broody again. She is hard to break of it, and apparently terribly persistent. This time, I didn’t even mess around and put her straight into the broody cage. Day 3 and she’s still doing the puff and cluck dance with her tail all fanned out like a turkey on display. I now call her turkey-butt, and I’m considering rehoming her to an owner who is able to let her hatch as many babies as she wants. Not really sure what to do with turkey-butt...

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Ugh... I have broody's that will go back to back to back even after being allowed to sit, hatch, and raise broods... all winter and summer, they don't care.

Rehoming is often what I choose to do with disclosure. However... I might just decide to process verses letting someone take a bird to sit and waste away while they steal chicks for selling... and maybe even still feed them layer the whole time without regard for the hens own physical or mental health.

If they break within 3-5 days, I might be able to deal. But some won't break even after 10+ days in the breaker... Chickens gives me a whole new understanding as to just how driven we are by our hormones!

Good luck, I feel your frustration.

 

[dunnmom]

Yeah, cull and process did come to mind. She’s 2 years old, so at this point she’s probably fit for making a big batch of soup. She went broody only once last year, so I don’t know that she’ll go the way of the chronic broody. My chickens are kind of like pets to us, so I will likely give her another chance before the stockpot or rehoming. But, one more broody period this year after breaking her, and I think I might end up having to let her go. She’s a great layer when she’s not broody or molting. By the way, is it more efficient to skin the hen, or pluck when prepping them for soup? Or is the skin important for the flavor or nutrients? Facts or opinions?

 

[dunnmom]

Ugh... I have broody's that will go back to back to back even after being allowed to sit, hatch, and raise broods... all winter and summer, they don't care.

Rehoming is often what I choose to do with disclosure. However... I might just decide to process verses letting someone take a bird to sit and waste away while they steal chicks for selling... and maybe even still feed them layer the whole time without regard for the hens own physical or mental health.

If they break within 3-5 days, I might be able to deal. But some won't break even after 10+ days in the breaker... Chickens gives me a whole new understanding as to just how driven we are by our hormones!

Good luck, I feel your frustration.

I hadn’t even considered that she may be neglected if I rehome her as a broody. She really isn’t fit to be a breeder bird, just a broody, so you may have a point that she wouldn’t be properly taken care of. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, it’s helping me make my decision.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Opinions I think. I have a plucker. It's just easier to clean a plucked bird (for my daughter), sometimes we do both and cook the skin to feed to the dogs as a treat.

We make shredded chicken enchiladas and all kinds of things, not just soup.

Her extra broodiness this year is a compliment to the environment you are providing.. safety and nutrition.

 

[gator75]

I loathe a broody hen. I have a bantam nankin by accident. I already don't like her because I know she'll be broody even though she hasn't even laid an egg or gone broody yet.

 

[aart]

Twice?! Pshaw!!......Just broke on for the 6th time since she hatched in March.