Can you stop the broody?

[Scottankarens]

Once a chicken goes "broody" and you remove the eggs from the nest, how long will the hen stay in her broody state? Thanks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes - the process is called "breaking" the broody - there are several different approaches that can be used, but I am a fan of the old fashioned "broody buster". A broody buster is a cage in which you place the bird, feed and water. It should be large enough to allow the bird to move about a bit, wire dog cages are a popular choice. You do not place bedding or any materiel that could be used to nest in and raise the cage up off the floor to permit air flow to get up under the bird. Keep the bird in this cage for a few days and then let her out for a test - if she immediately settles into the nearest nesting location and continues exhibiting broody behavior, back in the cage.

 

[aart]

My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a few bricks right in the coop and I would feed her some watered down crumble a couple times a day.

I let her out a couple times a day and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two

 

[Lidian]

At what age does brooding start?

 

[Scottankarens]

Here is a very interesting method of stopping the broody. Has anyone found this effective?

 

[aart]

Here is a very interesting method of stopping the broody. Has anyone found this effective?

That's one way to do it...many have.....I wouldn't have waited a month to try the wire cage method tho, might try the cold water if the cage didn't work.

 

[Scottankarens]

Thanks for the input. I don't think I would have waited that long either. It's nice to have a plan A and plan B.