Hen keeps going broody!

[Wyleiria]

I have a 1 year old black astralorp that has been like no other chicken I have ever had. She has been broody 7 different times. Today she went broody. It seems to happen every 3 or 4 weeks. I only have two hens, and one gets lonely when she decides she wants to be a mom. No roosters. I collect eggs every day and took away the ceremic eggs to show them where to lay. Every time, I have to lok her in a suspended cage for about 3 days. What can I do to prevent her from doing this??? The other hen also beats her up after every brood session and she acts flighty for a couple of days. My hens are very tame.

 

[sourland]

The broody instinct is very strong in some hens. Sometimes actually allowing a hen to raise chicks will extend the period between her broody sessions. On the other hand I have had hens that would raise 6 + broods of chicks per season. It's almost impossible to modify strong maternal instinct.

 

[Silver Silkie]

If you buy a couple of chicks from a breeder or a feed store and put them under her at night, you could let her raise the chicks. Then you could sell the chickens or keep them.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I second what the last poster said. Give her a couple of chicks to raise and see how she does. It could be easier than trying to break her constantly.

 

[Wyleiria]

The other hen really gets aggressive with her, but only when she is being broody. I would be afraid she may hurt the chicks. If I seperate them, then I'll have one lonely hen. I got some more chicks but it will be a long time coming for the slow introductions. I was hoping there was something to prevent it from happening in the first place. Thanks for the ideas though!

 

[PrairieChickens]

Separate them so that they can still see each other, and it should be fine. We keep our broodies in an enclosure within the coop.