Explain what being broody is to me.

[ChickEngineer]

I have used the dog grate method and it worked in about 3 days. I did give her a roost she sat on almost the whole time. My first flock were Americana's (5) and they never did get broody, have (6) Australopes and have had two go broody?

 

[Lone Star Leghorn]

Great info in this post. Thanks for bringing up the original question!

 

[oldhen2345]

Broodiness is triggered by a hormone that the hen produces at certain times, & can be a struggle to break. Broodiness causes the stronge urge to hatch, & raise chicks. You can prevent Broodiness by removing eggs out of nesting boxes daily. But they can still go broody with nothing to sit on.
What breeds do you have?

I have a senior hen that is broody (Orpington, see avatar)- has been for about 6 weeks. I just let her sit in her nesting box and ruminate. I check daily for eggs- one of the other girls sometimes lays an egg in there. The others use another box. I shoo Missy out twice a day to make sure she is eating and drinking, but other than that, if she is happy, I let her alone. Lord only knows when this will end.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a senior hen that is broody (Orpington, see avatar)- has been for about 6 weeks. I just let her sit in her nesting box and ruminate. I check daily for eggs- one of the other girls sometimes lays an egg in there. The others use another box. I shoo Missy out twice a day to make sure she is eating and drinking, but other than that, if she is happy, I let her alone. Lord only knows when this will end.

Maybe when she dies?
If you don't break her or she doesn't actually hatch chicks, her body condition will continue to deteriorate. A broody does not eat enough to thrive, just survive. And they get no exercise sitting all day and all night sitting on those eggs.
Things to think about.
Break her.
Or fertile eggs.
Leaving her in that condition hoping it will pass is not good for the bird.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
It will end when you end it.
Time to put the big girl pants on.
You don't have to make sure a broody hen eats and drinks. They've been through this for millions of years without starving but back then, they were always sitting on fertile eggs. Yours are not, so your job is to break the hormonal cycle.

I refer you back to post #37 in this thread.