Curing Broody Hen

[jk_olive_MI]

Hey everyone! I'm in need of some advice. I have a 1.5 year old hen who's broody for the first time. First two weeks of broodiness I removed her from the nesting boxes as much as I could. Didn't work. So I've put her in a raised wire dog cage with the bottom tray portion taken out (it's on top for shade/weather). She has lots of food and water. It's wide wires and difficult for her to stand on without falling in between so I slid in a few raised broom handles for perching. She's been doing fine, upset obviously, but no problems. After three days I let her out. She ran straight back to the nesting boxes and plopped down. All night. Now she's back in the cage...I just don't know what else I can do to break this. We don't need more chicks we already have four new pullets. Help???

 

[LJoWilly]

I have 2 right now who are broody..it usually takes anywhere between 2-4 days in the broody breaker for mine to "snap" out of it.

 

[OkieChickenGal]

I've never had a hen go broody, but I've heard that closing up the nesting boxes for awhile might break them. Or try keeping her in the cage longer

 

[SueT]

I had one that needed 5 days in the broody buster cage......

 

[jk_olive_MI]

I had one that needed 5 days in the broody buster cage......

5 days?! Holy cow I feel bad for her already. I guess it will just have to be a couple more days...has anyone had a longer span?

 

[ChickNanny13]

The longer you allow the to be broody, the longer it takes My 1st time broody I did as you removing from the nest & blocking it once all were done laying ... Only had 5 Blue Wyandottes. She was stubborn & I got tired of walking back & forth to remove her, I got the wire cage. I placed a piece of 1/2 x 1 welded wire to fit on top of that wide wire. The first attempt in the cage was 3 days but in a couple days she was back in the nest. So she went back in for 4 days ... Does that count as a week?

 

[aart]

The longer you allow the to be broody, the longer it takes

Yes, this^^^
I have one now, 2nd time breaking in the last 6 weeks, I let her hatch in March.
She's on her 4th day, will let her out this evening with nests open and see what she does.

I placed a piece of 1/2 x 1 welded wire to fit on top of that wide wire.

Yes, this too^^^
I used 1x2...better for poops going thru.

If you get the smaller wire on smooth and tight enough,
you can still use the tray if needed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[ChickNanny13]

aart is so very right, the 1 x 2 would be better. I've had to scrub to remove poop but had left over 1/2 x 1 from rabbit cages and I like to make use of "scrapes I'm cheap