How do I break a broody hen?

[boxermom]

One of my BR hens went broody a couple of months ago. I tested her for awhile before giving her eggs. She sat on the eggs, then got off them with 10 days to go.

Now, I have 2 chickens sitting on turk eggs. My problem is that my BR is broody and wants to sit in the chickens nesting box. She doesn't fit. I'm not sure if she is the same hen that went broody or not. Anyway, I don't really trust her AND I don't have room for another broody at this time. All my brooders are occupied. I have the dogloo set up for turks, but they won't go in there. I take her out of the nest box at least 2 times a day, but I would really like to break her. My first turkey eggs are due to hatch this weekend. Would she take care of the poults? If not, I'll leave them with the BO in the brooder. I'm not concerned about the poults and chickens together. Mine have lived their entire lives in the same barn and I've had no problems.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We have a couple broody pens that we use for ours, there is nothing in them but a roost.

Steve

 

[boxermom]

If I keep taking her out of the box everyday will she just give up being broody?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
You will wear out and give up long before she will. When they get something in their head it sticks.

Steve

 

[boxermom]

You're right again Steve.

My turkey bumped a broody chicken out of her nest and is now sitting on 9 SLW eggs. The problem is, they came scrambled in the shipment. I just put them under the hen to keep her broody until the replacements arrive. Silly bird...

 

[cybercat]

Best way I have heard to break a broody is to put them in a wire cage off the floor with a fan under them. Cool air seems to do the trick. I have 4 broodies and I remove eggs from them every day even take them out of the box and they have not broken yet. But I do not want them too either just yet.

 

[Alastair1957]

My Partner Carol and I are new to chooks, we are suburban Chook Wranglers in Croydon, Victoria, Australia... we have 4 brown Issas ("the sisters") and two Japanese Silkies ("Cheech" and "Chong")... all birds are quite young, and have only been laying for about two weeks... but both Silkies have gone broody... bit pointless, as we don't have a rooster ! anyone got any new ideas on how to change their mindset ?

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

I used the broody cage technique to successfully break my broody BO last fall.