DO you have to break a broody?

[Hennyhandler]

I have a broody and right at this moment I unfortunately can't take advantage of it and put some eggs under her. So the question is can I let her stay in the nest box till she loses interest or do I need to find a way to stop her. By the way, I have no rooster so there is no issue of a chick appearing one day besides the fact that she gets in there before anyone can lay and egg anyway so she is only sitting on a fake egg.

But my point is I don't mind if she sits in there if it makes her happy but I don't want her only eating periodically like that so she loses to much weight. Right now everytime I go out there I take her out and make her go outside and she'll run to the water and food. Sometimes she even stays out and pecks around as well. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Lesa]

That is what I have done with mine- hasn't led to calamity. I know many people take drastic measures (dunking them in water, separating with no nesting materials, etc.) If you keep taking her out and offering food and water, she should be fine. You know your chicken, if it goes on too long and you are worried about her, you can try some of the other ideas. I just got chicks today and I am going to try putting a few under my broody. She has been trying so hard to hatch that golf ball- she needs a reward! Good luck!

 

[newchicksnducks]

I also had a broody and was unable to give her eggs to hatch. I would take her out of the nest box whenever I went outside to feed, water, let out to free range, etc. I would also place her on the roost at night after the girls were in for the night. This went on for about 5+weeks. She was not a nasty broody...no angry pecks, major grumbling, etc. She just kind of purred when I checked under her for the days eggs or moved her to the roost or outside to free range. She would come out to the run in the AM when I opened up the pop door and spread scratch for the morning, but she always headed back to the nest box asap. One day I noticed she was out on her own during the day, and came out on her own for free range time. No more broody hen!

 

[teach1rusl]

If she's a diehard broody, I would take her off the nest at least once a day to encourage her to eat and drink. Some girls take very little care themselves when they're seriously broody. And IMO, I wouldn't let her go more than a month. My girl lost a LOT of weight over the 23 or so days I let her sit (on a wooden egg), and that was with me bumping her off 2x a day and taking her occasional treats...

 

[Hennyhandler]

I too have taken occasional treats to her and move her to the roost every night so it seems I am doing pretty good though I don't get to take her out of the nest box as much as I would like. I think it is good though that when I do take her outside she at leasts goes to the food and water and walks around sometimes before making her way back in the coop. Even though she is a little skinny compared I think that I will let her continue for a while longer. Maybe give her some high fiber foods just for her. Thanks for the help and making me feel better.

 

[jwchicklady]

watch out, she might give the other hens the idea. I have 6 broody hens right now out of 18 total hens!!

what is up with that?? I usually let them do their broody thing, but I am not so sure right now because they are taking up all the nest boxes.