Four broody hens. STOP IT!

[kokosmom2]

My chickens are absolutely driving me crazy. I have 8 two year old hens, 14 one year old hens and 1 year old rooster. The 2 Buff Orpingtons (currently 2 years old) went broody a couple of times last year when I put the chicks (the ones that are now 1 year old) in the coop. I put them in broody jail a few times and they finally stopped going broody once Fall/Winter started.
Now this year, they are both broody again, but one lasted 2 weeks and then got off the nest and went into one with fake eggs. I kept taking her off but that didn't get thru her brain, so she is now in broody jail again. The other Buff has been sitting for 3 weeks in the same nest box. I'm going to give her a couple of more days and then move her to see what is under her.
And 3 weeks ago, my 2 year old white leghorn went broody. She sat on that nest for 2 weeks, got off and then went and sat in another nest box. I took the 3 eggs and broke them open One had a developing dead chick in it, the other 2 eggs were just eggs. And now she is back being broody sitting in that nest box.

Now this week, I have a year old Ameraucana sitting in a nest box being broody. I took an egg out from under her and now she is sitting on a fake egg. Is this broody thing like women getting their periods at the same time? I bought the Buffs because I was hoping they would go broody, but the leghorn and Ameraucana are not supposed to do that. Is it possible to get them to stop other than broody jail?

 

[aart]

OyVey! Be careful what you wish for, eh?

Is it possible to get them to stop other than broody jail?

That's the best way, IMO....and the sooner the better.
Sounds like you need more crates!
I've never had more than 1 at time, but have read that you can put 2 hens in one big enough crate.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[Chickassan]

If you have a good amount of spare time , diligence and patience you can cool their bellies with ice packs or cool water. This can be in addition to the crate, but you have to keep on top of it to keep the belly cool for days sometimes.
Also have to take care to buffer the cold from the nearly always nude belly don't want to hurt the crazy things. I just wrap ice packs, or frozen veggie bags in a paper towel cocoon. Good luck, and bless your heart.

 

[kokosmom2]

To increase my knowledge, why is it important to get them into broody jail as soon as possible to get them out of broody mode? If I wanted them to sit on eggs, shouldn't I just leave them sit until they abandon the nest?

I was watching the camera that I have in my coop. Buff who has been sitting for 3 weeks was off the nest and hanging around the other Buff that I have in the the crate. She was off for about 15 min. My camera angle doesn't allow me to see into the nest boxes so I couldn't see what she is sitting on. I'll do that after I get home and go and feed them

 

[aart]

To increase my knowledge, why is it important to get them into broody jail as soon as possible to get them out of broody mode? If I wanted them to sit on eggs, shouldn't I just leave them sit until they abandon the nest?

Yes but, this thread title implies you wanted the to STOP!!

If you want to break them it's best to start it right away as it can shorten the breaking time.

If you want them to hatch then get them set up(again asap) and settled in a place where you want them setting and then give them fresh fertile eggs. You can either leave them where they are, but I like to move them to a separate part of coop to reduce complications.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Broody jail is the only thing that I have ever found that works. A week at least to cool their jets. Sooner than that then they just go right back to it.

 

[kokosmom2]

Yup, took a week in broody jail for the Buffs last year. Then they were fine for a few weeks, then back to being broody. I guess I will drag out large crate and put the leghorn and Ameraucana in there.

If I left them sit, would they eventually stop? Or do they sit there forever?

 

[mixedbreeds]

‘‘Tis the season I have 16 broodys it’s just stupid I have never had this many do this there were 3 girls in each nesting box but one.

 

[aart]

If I left them sit, would they eventually stop? Or do they sit there forever?

Hard to say.
Some might quit on their own, some might sit until they are in bad physical shape.
Best to break them tho, IMO, if you don't want them to hatch.
Had a serial broody lat summer, broke her 7 times after letting her hatch in March.
Finally gave her away...and she hasn't gone broody again.

 

[kokosmom2]

They are all going to go into broody jail Gotta haul out the dog crates. I'm just mad cuz the leghorn and ameraucana aren't supposed to do this but at least I don't have 16 of them doing it! I feel bad for you @mixedbreeds