Contagious broodiness?

[Panhandler80]

So this is my 6th year with chickens. Second flock with 17 hens and ample space. Have dealt with broody hens before. Most i ever had was 2. A few times I’ve had one it worked itself out. Other times I’ve done solitary for 3 days.

Well, I got lazy here recently with two with fingers crossed. Well a few days in it became 3. Then two days all five boxed had a hen at sun down. Today before work and just now…. SEVEN in the five boxes.

Now what? Just start with one in solitary and rotate? I don’t have time or set up to pen and feed / water seven in solitary all at once. If I go one at the Time, it seems like a new one will just pick up the habit while the solitary bird is being broken

????

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Some chickens just get broody really easily. The only trick is while breaking the broody hens to collect all the eggs daily and even twice a day. I will say that locking them out of the coop for a few days also works great. I had to do that a few weeks ago due to an issue so they slept in the run and my broody hen stopped being broody and even was finally integrated with the flock after 10 months of trying.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is the crate/cage big enough to hold two? Could try doing 2 at a time, if they're agreeable about it (some hens won't tolerate that).

 

[Panhandler80]

Is the crate/cage big enough to hold two? Could try doing 2 at a time, if they're agreeable about it (some hens won't tolerate that).

Certainly bigger than the nesting box they essentially living in. It’s a large breed dog crate. The metal kind with a plywood bottom and items to roost on.