Broody vs. Bound

[RedLionChooks]

It can be hard to tell.
I would say it takes at least a week to start laying again.
If she's in the nest and you grab her she would make broody sounds, that cluckcluckcluck....
...back into the crate.
...or you might have to let her stay in there and see if she lays or is still there at night.

Thanks aart! Learning the behaviors and the language, thanks to folks like you who are willing to share your experience. It gives me reassurance as I make my way down the road. Will keep following the signs and do my best, though I must confess, I feel a tug to let nature take it's course. I'm the first one to jump on a soapbox and complain about humans interfering with nature and the natural order of things, and here I am, trying to break a natural cycle to meet my own needs. That's another thread I imagine! For now, I am sticking with my attempt to break the broody cycle. Thanks again!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I guess what I'm asking is, once the hen's broody cycle has been broken, will she just stay out of the nest boxes for a few weeks until her egg-laying cycle kicks in again. How will I know if she is making her way to the box to brood, or to lay normally?

She won't start laying again for a couple of weeks after being broken, so has no reason to be in the nest boxes. After that, if you see her in the nests, but she's not showing broody behavior (puffing, angry clucking), then she's back to laying as normal.

 

[RedLionChooks]

She won't start laying again for a couple of weeks after being broken, so has no reason to be in the nest boxes. After that, if you see her in the nests, but she's not showing broody behavior (puffing, angry clucking), then she's back to laying as normal.

Thanks so much, RoseMaryThyme! Super helpful for a first time broody breaker -- which I feel AWEFUL about --- more awfuler (yes, more awfuler!) each day she is caged. My heart is bigger than my head, which I also am working on breaking as I learn the ins and outs of chicken keeping, and life in general for that matter! How funny that chickens are the teachers for the times in life where both sides of the coin really suck, but you have to pick one, and live with it! Thanks again. This is day 3, and I have not caved letting her out. This morning she is showing signs of her non-broody self -- like not all puffed up, poops under the little roost bar I put in for her at night, and more eating / drinking / regular pooping vs. broody pooping / happy chirps versus not-so-happy clucks. I plan to let her out in a day (or two - one for good measure!) and see how things roll. All this I have learned in a few days! So thankful for the peeps on this forum for sharing the goods!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks so much, RoseMaryThyme! Super helpful for a first time broody breaker -- which I feel AWEFUL about --- more awfuler (yes, more awfuler!) each day she is caged. My heart is bigger than my head, which I also am working on breaking as I learn the ins and outs of chicken keeping, and life in general for that matter! How funny that chickens are the teachers for the times in life where both sides of the coin really suck, but you have to pick one, and live with it! Thanks again. This is day 3, and I have not caved letting her out. This morning she is showing signs of her non-broody self -- like not all puffed up, poops under the little roost bar I put in for her at night, and more eating / drinking / regular pooping vs. broody pooping / happy chirps versus not-so-happy clucks. I plan to let her out in a day (or two - one for good measure!) and see how things roll. All this I have learned in a few days! So thankful for the peeps on this forum for sharing the goods!

I felt bad about breaking a broody at first but I reason it as being kinder to both broody and the rest of the flock in the long run to break her. Since I don't intend for the broody to hatch, no reason for her to be sitting in a hot coop for prolonged periods of time, tearing out her belly feathers, losing weight, all to end up with nothing to show for her effort. And for the rest of the flock, a broody can be a terror, moody and downright confusing, so this is a relief for the others to not have to deal with that as they're trying to lay eggs or just happen to be in her way as she comes storming out to eat or poop.

Good luck with your breaking efforts. Hopefully she's broken enough that she can rejoin the flock very soon. You can probably let her out tomorrow morning to test how she's doing, and if she doesn't go back to the nest in an hour's time or thereabouts, she's probably good to rejoin the flock.

 

[RedLionChooks]

I felt bad about breaking a broody at first but I reason it as being kinder to both broody and the rest of the flock in the long run to break her. Since I don't intend for the broody to hatch, no reason for her to be sitting in a hot coop for prolonged periods of time, tearing out her belly feathers, losing weight, all to end up with nothing to show for her effort. And for the rest of the flock, a broody can be a terror, moody and downright confusing, so this is a relief for the others to not have to deal with that as they're trying to lay eggs or just happen to be in her way as she comes storming out to eat or poop.

Good luck with your breaking efforts. Hopefully she's broken enough that she can rejoin the flock very soon. You can probably let her out tomorrow morning to test how she's doing, and if she doesn't go back to the nest in an hour's time or thereabouts, she's probably good to rejoin the flock.

RoseMaryThyme, these are such helpful tips, and greatly appreciated. I was desensitized a bit over the last few days, observing that 3-4 days is actually much quicker than my mind made it out to be in the beginning. Plus, my rationale to attempt to break the cycle fits in with all that you described. It's a good thing, because a flock mate showed early signs of the same behavior today, before I locked her out of the nests after all were finished laying. She fussed for quite some time, but went out the the flock for the evening forage, and roosted with the rest. Will keep a close eye in the morning. My husband and I now realize that managing a broody hen(s) is now simply part of our chicken keeping experience -- we were skating up 'til now in the first year! Now I will have something to share from some limited experience with someone else who will be in the shoes I'm in now. Thanks again!

 

[RedLionChooks]

Thanks to the advice on this fine forum, our broody hen is broody no more. Four nights and 3 days in the crate worked for us. I did let her out to stretch her legs and dust bathe. Now I know the signs, what to do, and how to monitor the situ. The hardest part is the toll it took on my heart! Thanks again for your help!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thanks to the advice on this fine forum, our broody hen is broody no more. Four nights and 3 days in the crate worked for us. I did let her out to stretch her legs and dust bathe. Now I know the signs, what to do, and how to monitor the situ. The hardest part is the toll it took on my heart! Thanks again for your help!

So happy to hear! I've done both: trying to endure a broody and letting her snap out of it (I eventually let her hatch chicks) and 6 weeks later breaking her using "broody jail". Broody jail was a significantly better experience all in all! Although when comparing rearing chicks myself vs letting mom do the work, mama hen was better.