My almost 9 month old, February 28th, Silkie just became broody two days ago and I honestly don't know anything about dealing with a broody hen since she is my first chicken ever. My roommates have four hens and one rooster in an adjacent coop/run that connects hers, but is separated by chicken coop wire because some of the hens don't get along well with her. Today I took her infertile egg away from underneath her, and then put her into the run with the others thinking it would snap her out of the broody 'trance' I've read about online. Also I know that the rooster has tried to mate with her before, and as I was leaving for school I saw him doing his dance and trying to get on top of her, but I don't know if he was successful this time because I had to leave. I got back, removed her from their run, put her back in her run, and she went directly back into her little coop, but was a little confused as to where the egg was. Regardless she sat back down, and every time I got close to her she would make noises like she did before that warned me she was broody. If the rooster was successful of mating with her will she produce eggs even in this broody mode? If not, what should I do?
Silkies are notoriously broody. They're one of the best breeds as far as mothering goes. Normally, a hen will stop laying when she is broody. However, you can always put a few eggs under her from the other hens, assuming that they have been in contact with the roo. If the hens have been with the roo for an extended period of time, it's pretty safe to say that he's done his business. Or you could also order fertile hatching eggs (I haven't had the best of hatch rates with this method, though) If you want her to set, I'd put her in her own coop with her eggs in peace. That would reduce the stress for her. If not, I've successfully broken wanna-be mothers by continuously pulling them off the nest or putting them into a dog cage with no bedding material at all. By doing so, it eliminates all comfy nesting spots. I will say that using a hen to raise and hatch chicks is by far the easiest way to do it. You supply feed and water, mom does the rest. Not to mention it's just adorable to see little babies following their doting momma around everywhere. Good luck to you and don't hesitate to ask any more questions!
