How Can I Get A Hen UN Broody?

[Almosta Farm]

Day 7 update:

My broody Leghorn finally voluntarily came out of the nest box this morning!

Every morning in the past week, I made oatmeal + veggie + meal worm + layer feed mash, let her have some in the nest first, then remove her from the coop to finish up breakfast outside on the lawn. Then I locked her out of the coop, either in the attached run to dust bathe or to hang out and eat some more. In the afternoon, I put them in the 25' x 5' auxiliary run which is lined with fresh grass clipping and sprinkled with BOSS and meal worms, or let them free range in the yard. At first, she would just sit on the ground or in the dust pen, whenever she could, she would fly out to stand on the coop. Eventually, she could not resist chasing after the treats.

I kept moving the flock back and forth between two runs or letting them free range to keep them occupied throughout the day, anything but to let the Miss Broody get back into the coop. At night, she slept in the nest box, but I put her back on the roosting bar before midnight. She was very docile as always, puffed up a little in the nest box when she saw me coming to move her or the eggs, but I can pat her all I want, gave her lots of hugs while moving her.

Good thing the weather was nice and I had a long weekend to deal with her. I guess persistent pays off. This morning, the coop door remains open, but she stays out in the run scratching as usual now. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Mine did too ... with these little cuties!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Almosta Farm
Now that is I think the best way to break a broody by far. Congrats on the little ones.

 

[Manningjw]

This set up works for us. Its just a rabbit hutch that can be hung as needed in our coop. Our hens get access to plenty of food and fresh water and after 2-3 days we can turn her loose with the rest of the flock. It's inexpensive and effective and best of all its humane for the hen.

That looks almost exactly like my method. I have my cage outside the coop (has plenty of shade still) because my inside coop is a bit smaller.

 

[bwalden]

WOW, just beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos.

Now that I've broken my broody, I don't have a way to hatch any eggs or I'd get some from you. Maybe now we need a thread on how to encourage a girl to GO broody?

That might be a good idea. Lol! I've got 3 you could borrow right now. Seems like I've always got a hen trying to brood some eggs also.

I've almost always got eggs for sale weather permitting and if the hen's are cooperating.

 

[N F C]

That might be a good idea. Lol! I've got 3 you could borrow right now. Seems like I've always got a hen trying to brood some eggs also.

I've almost always got eggs for sale weather permitting and if the hen's are cooperating.

Great to know...I'll keep you in mind! Thanks

 

[AlohaAloha]

Thank you and yes those are some of my Welsummer eggs. Here's a couple more. (Got some for sale by the way also) Lol

I, too, have a broody hen. My first. I am really bummed because we had to "dispatch" our very aggressive but beautiful rooster a few weeks ago so I know none of the eggs are fertile. My husband asked me tonight if we could buy fertile eggs and put under her and would they hatch. Will they? Until now, I only thought people bought fertile eggs for an incubator. Thank you, in advance, for your responses.

 

[WthrLady]

I, too, have a broody hen. My first. I am really bummed because we had to "dispatch" our very aggressive but beautiful rooster a few weeks ago so I know none of the eggs are fertile. My husband asked me tonight if we could buy fertile eggs and put under her and would they hatch. Will they? Until now, I only thought people bought fertile eggs for an incubator. Thank you, in advance, for your responses.

ABSOLUTELY you can! You can either order eggs from a hatchery, or even better from someone up the street that carries fertile eggs for sale. Fellow BYC'er lives up the road from me and he sells eggs for eating,(not refrigerated), and I buy from him. He has fertile eggs. (my rooster then was not of age.) I simply shoved them under miss broody and 21 days later. Out popped puff balls.

 

[bwalden]

 I, too, have a broody hen.  My first. I am really bummed because we had to "dispatch" our very aggressive but beautiful rooster a few weeks ago so I know none of the eggs are fertile.  My husband asked me tonight if we could buy fertile eggs and put under her and would they hatch.  Will they? Until now, I only thought people bought fertile eggs for an incubator.  Thank you, in advance, for your responses.

Yes absolutely they will actually have better odds in most cases than in an incubator. I try and hatch all mine under a broody. I just feel it's the way nature intended so if I have a broody use it.

 

[aart]

Thank you and yes those are some of my Welsummer eggs. Here's a couple more. (Got some for sale by the way also) Lol

I've been wondering.....is shipping hatching eggs in the heat of summer successful?
I would be worried they'd get way too hot in a mail truck somewhere along the line.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Quote:
ADORABLE!!! Like buttered popcorn!!!!!!