Gwyneth goes broody! Sigh...

[vantain]

So today, my 2 1/2 year old ISA Brown hen went broody. I’m guessing it is related to her also being mated by my 18 week old cockerel. I don’t know how often he has mated her, but I did witness it once already. Today I found her in the nest box, all day long. When they went to roost tonight, she was still on the nest. I moved her to the roost, and she immediately returned to the nest. She is also doing the pancake thing.

I put her in a wire crate, on blocks, for the night, and will move it to the run in the morning. This just started today, so how long should I expect it to take to break her broodiness?

 

[MarkJr]

Let her out in 24 hours (not first thing tomorrow). If she roosts with the flock, you’re good. If she dives back into nest, repeat. You can wait till about 30 minutes before roost time if you’d like to give her some free range time. Just watch her and act accordingly.

2-3 days typically. My broody took 6 to break.

 

[azygous]

It shouldn't take more than three days, and it could be as little as 24 hours and she may be de-broodied. You won't know until you test her.

I usually let a broody out of the broody cage a couple times a day to dirt bathe and to sufficiently annoy the flock. During these interludes, she is being tested. If she putters around harmlessly and doesn't make a bee-line back to a nest, she's likely broken. If she takes a big poop and immediately races to a nest, she gets popped back into the cage to do more time.

The average is three days for my broodies. The longest it's taken with severe cases is ten days.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Mating doesnt really cause broodiness. Wish it did, but it doesn't

 

[vantain]

I let her out of the cage this morning, and she seemed content to just be out with the flock during the normal eat/drink routine. That lasted till about an hour ago, and she promptly headed to the nest. She could just be trying to lay an egg, since she did lay a couple of days ago, but her actions seem more in line with broodiness. Hunkered down in the nest, growling a bit when others get near, gathering the eggs together. I put her back in the crate for the rest of today with food and water, out in the run with the others. Everyone is checking out her new crib. She's in the cage on the upper right hand side next to the coop.

 

[WallyG74]

My worst took 5 or 6 days but I was trying to avoid chicken jail. She was only in jail for 2 days. Chasing her off the nest and moving her to the roost didn’t work. Her sisters were so easy to break I was constantly giving her the benefit of the doubt. Live and learn!

 

[aart]

I put her back in the crate for the rest of today with food and water, out in the run with the others.

Excellent!
I used to let them out several times a day, but it can be a PITA.
Now I just leave them in all day and all night for 48 hours, the release very close to roosting time and see what they do. If they go to roost, cool beans,
if they are in nest when I lock up, back into the crate for another 23 hours.

 

[vantain]

Excellent!
I used to let them out several times a day, but it can be a PITA.
Now I just leave them in all day and all night for 48 hours, the release very close to roosting time and see what they do. If they go to roost, cool beans,
if they are in nest when I lock up, back into the crate for another 23 hours.

I had her in the crate from about noon yesterday till about 7:30 this morning. I let her out then, and have observed her. She has not gone into the coop and seems content, so far, to just be outside in the run hanging out with everyone else.

 

[vantain]

Looks good so far. She went to roost with the rest, and stayed out of the nest boxes.