Forever a broody hen

[AshG]

My girly Ramona has been broody 3 times in the last year. The last time she was broody (end of May) I gave her day olds on June 2nd. She happily raised them and at about week 5 ish she was done with them and they have intergrated the flock wonderfully. Welp fast forward to a few days ago… she is broody AGAIN!!!! Not only is she broody… but she has somehow coaxed her “chicks” that are now fully feathered and quite large under her. When I went to close the coop, she is in the nest with her 3 large babies tucked under/beside her. These “babies” have been roosting on their own with the flocks for weeks. My question is…. Do I just pretend she is raising teenagers? Do I give her fertilized eggs? What the heck!? And why is she sooo friggin broody all the time!

I attached a photo of Ramona and her “kiddos” as I was very perplexed.

 

[DobieLover]

Some hens really love being mothers. Obviously Ramona this one. As long as she keeps taking her older pullets out with her and continues to 'raise' them, you could just let her be. She won't lay any eggs but she won't try to hatch anymore either.

But if you want her to break her broodiness, set her up in a broody breaker. Because she is so determined, I would leave her in there for at least 5 days and nights before letting her out an hour before roost time to see if she goes to roost. If it is particularly warm where you are, you may need to dunk her belly in cool, not cold, water several times during the day and put her back into her elevated, solid wire broody breaker crate soaking wet. I have found this help speed up the process with a stubborn girl in a heat wave.