Broody won't break

[FluffyButtBabies]

I swear I've tried everything. Blocking her from the nest boxes, cold packs under her butt, water dips, even the elevated cage. She's an 8 month old 1/2 silkie, but it's 40 degrees right now in November, so I don't get why she want babies this badly. She went broody a month ago, we broke her in a week. Two weeks later she's broody again, and I swear this bird thinks that she can hatch invisible eggs no matter where she is. I'm really worried about her because it's too cold for her to be on her own chuffing around, and she's spent multiple days in the cage with no progress. Obviously we can't give her chicks with how cold it is...any tips?

 

[azygous]

Sikies are tough little customers. Some live for brooding eggs and chicks.

The broody cage is the only way to break a broody. All other methods are haphazard and futile to interrupt the broody cycle of hormones. The cage has to be open mesh not solid. Air needs to circulate freely under the broody hen for at least 24 hours straight or longer, and it usually requires three days of this or longer in hard cases.

If your cage has a solid floor, that's your problem. If you only kept her in the cage during the day and let her out at night, that's your problem. If at any time, she was permitted extended periods out of the cage to sit in the run, warming her underparts, that's your problem. A broody to be broken requires unbroken period of between 24 and 72 hours being deprived of solid surfaces to trap her body heat in order for the hormones to be interrupted.

 

[LaFleche]

I don't get why she want babies this badly. She went broody a month ago, we broke her in a week. Two weeks later she's broody again, and I swear this bird thinks that she can hatch invisible eggs no matter where she is.

This is what Silkies do, they are living incubators.

Obviously we can't give her chicks with how cold it is...any tips?

You could give her some day old chicks, maybe 3 or 4. As long as she has a dry and draft-free coop with good light, she will be able to keep them warm enough. In case it does get too cold in your part of the world, install a heat lamp, so the chicks will be able to get out from under her to properly eat and drink.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I've kept her in an open-air bottom cage that was outside, but I did take her inside overnight because I was worried she'd freeze. I've kept her in the house before too in an open-bottom cage, but she refused to eat when she was in it so I let her outside again (that worked previously but ig not anymore). Should I just make her sit in it even if she won't eat? Or will she starve?

 

[LaFleche]

I've kept her in an open-air bottom cage that was outside, but I did take her inside overnight because I was worried she'd freeze. I've kept her in the house before too in an open-bottom cage, but she refused to eat when she was in it so I let her outside again (that worked previously but ig not anymore). Should I just make her sit in it even if she won't eat? Or will she starve?

Some broodies get into such a trance that they would starve themselves to death without human intervention. So I would not recommend to leave her on her own.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I know, that's why I'm so worried. I had a hen that went broody once and ended up starving herself to death. That's why I really want this one to break, but I don't know how to do it because she just will NOT give up. I hoped her being only 1/2 silkie would make her less prone to wanting chicks, but I guess that backfired.

 

[LaFleche]

I know, that's why I'm so worried. I had a hen that went broody once and ended up starving herself to death. That's why I really want this one to break, but I don't know how to do it because she just will NOT give up. I hoped her being only 1/2 silkie would make her less prone to wanting chicks, but I guess that backfired.

Could you get her 3 day old chicks? This might help her to switch from brooding mode to chick care mode.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

Well I'm starting to lean toward that option, but I've never let a broody raise chicks before. I've heard plenty of horror stories where the other hens kill the babies, they freeze to death, etc. I wouldn't be able to separate her from the other hens if she did have chicks, so I'm worried the others would go after them. Plus, it's hitting the 30s (F) where I live. Would chicks even be able to survive that?

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

For several reasons, seems like "now" with winter nearing isn't the right time for You to deal with letting your broody raise chicks. (I dont blame you.) Re her not eating and "possibly starving to death", broody hens usually only eat once a day for the 21 days they incubate their eggs. And during that time they do lose weight. To help prevent excessive weight loss, i give my broodies enticing nutritious "snacks" mixed in with their regular feed when they take their daiily broody breaks. For example scrambled egg, mealworms, etc. This doesnt replace their normal feed intake, but definitely helps decrease weight loss while broody. Whether a hen is incubating eggs or in "broody jail", you can do the same.

If you have a place where you have sucessfully broken her hormones in the past, i would confine her there again and break her hormones asap. Especially since she will likely go broody over and over again, until she wears you down and you allow her to have some adorable chicks.