How do I break a broody?!

[MamaPoult]

Hey BYC people! I was hoping you all could help me out with something.

So my nice Australorp hen, Elizabeth, has been broody for about 2-3 weeks now. She stays in the box all day and is pulling her belly feathers out too now. Our season is closing in here to it is not possible to let her hatch any chicks for me. If I take all her eggs she waits until another hen lays an egg and then takes that box over! If I throw her out on to the coop floor or run she'll make a nest there! I would let her be but I am getting concerned about her belly feathers. Winters are harsh here and not fit for partly bald hens. My littles are getting to laying age also and I would like them to learn to lay in the boxes so blocking those of just doesn't seem like an option. So I would appreciate any and all advice on how to break my girl. Thanks!

 

[aart]

Tho I've never let one go that long, this is how I break a broody:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

 

[MamaPoult]

Tho I've never let one go that long, this is how I break a broody:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

Sweet! Thank you! My Australorps go broody on occasion but it only usually lasts a week this one is determined

 

[MamaPoult]

Does anyone else have any suggestions? Someone borrowed my kennal and conveniently forgot to return it and my other one just had a Mareks bird in it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Does anyone else have any suggestions? Someone borrowed my kennal and conveniently forgot to return it and my other one just had a Mareks bird in it.

Do you have anything else that can confine a hen for a while? While I have a dog crate, I've also broken broodies in (ironically) a chick brooder, a dog exercise pen, even an overturned tea cart wrapped in chicken wire (would not recommend, but it still worked). If she's not a hardcore broody just keeping her out of the nest box should be enough to break her.

 

[MamaPoult]

Do you have anything else that can confine a hen for a while? While I have a dog crate, I've also broken broodies in (ironically) a chick brooder, a dog exercise pen, even an overturned tea cart wrapped in chicken wire (would not recommend, but it still worked). If she's not a hardcore broody just keeping her out of the nest box should be enough to break her.

Ooh come to think of it.....I might have a baby gate! Thank you!

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

If you have a run or coop, throw her outside of it. Let her free range on your property the whole day and then at sunset let her return to the coop. If she goes back to the nest box at night, repeat. If she goes to roost, you broke the broody! I do this with all my broodies which is about 20 a year and everytime it works with in 1 - 3 days!

 

[MamaPoult]

If you have a run or coop, throw her outside of it. Let her free range on your property the whole day and then at sunset let her return to the coop. If she goes back to the nest box at night, repeat. If she goes to roost, you broke the broody! I do this with all my broodies which is about 20 a year and everytime it works with in 1 - 3 days!

Ahhhh! Thank you for the info! This is very helpful!

 

[AGeese]

I just had to put mine in a dog pen I had on hand with just a raised 4x4 with food/water. Letting her decide when to go out wasn't working. I'd let her out as I did my routine check on the others, then put her back for the rest of the day/night and she was over it next day.

 

[MamaPoult]

I just had to put mine in a dog pen I had on hand with just a raised 4x4 with food/water. Letting her decide when to go out wasn't working. I'd let her out as I did my routine check on the others, then put her back for the rest of the day/night and she was over it next day.

Oh I see! Ok thank you!