Do hens get broody without a rooster?

[WallyG74]

Ooh pretty! I have 2 Silkies. I'm not exaggerating when I say they have both been broody for 4 of the 5 months of 2020 so far. Luckily, they do a pretty good job of getting off the nest and eating, drinking, dust bathing. I trimmed their nails about 3 times now, but they aren't wasting away.

When my B Orp went broody, she lost a lot of weight and plucked her underside bald. I broke her in a crate with no floor. If I'd let her carry on, I wonder if she'd have made it.

Oh no! I hope catching her on the first day may help. I’m new to broody. I’m definitely glad I’ve got all this advice and knowledge from BYC! My hens are so sweet and funny. I hate to see one in distress.

 

[WallyG74]

Update: I checked on her and she was still on the nest. I went in and got her off the nest and put her on the roost. She fought back a little but finally settled in on the roost. I hope she stays.

 

[rosemarythyme]

To break a broody, get a wire cage (or some other enclosure can work, I use my brooder or a small dog exercise pen) and put the chicken in there with food and water. She stays in there around the clock for about 48 hours, or until you start seeing a decline in broody signs (flattening like a pancake, hissing, puffing, constant tik-tik-tik sound), then you can test her by letting her out and seeing what she does. If she heads back to the nest at any point, back in the cage she goes, for another 24 hrs, then test again.

If you cannot safely keep the bird caged around the clock (no room, no run or you don't feel run is predator proof) then take her out at night and put her directly on the roost, then cage again next morning.

If you break early on, it usually takes 2-3 days to break them. Delaying it may make it take longer, as the bird is more set on brooding.

 

[aart]

 

[WallyG74]

To break a broody, get a wire cage (or some other enclosure can work, I use my brooder or a small dog exercise pen) and put the chicken in there with food and water. She stays in there around the clock for about 48 hours, or until you start seeing a decline in broody signs (flattening like a pancake, hissing, puffing, constant tik-tik-tik sound), then you can test her by letting her out and seeing what she does. If she heads back to the nest at any point, back in the cage she goes, for another 24 hrs, then test again.

If you cannot safely keep the bird caged around the clock (no room, no run or you don't feel run is predator proof) then take her out at night and put her directly on the roost, then cage again next morning.

If you break early on, it usually takes 2-3 days to break them. Delaying it may make it take longer, as the bird is more set on brooding.

She stayed on the roost last night when I put her up there. This morning she got down and went out in the run with the rest of the hens. It seems like she’s letting me off easy this time. She’s on the roost right now acting like it never happened.