How do I discourage my chicken from nesting?

[Georgey]

Its been 3months from when my chicken hatched 4 beautiful chicks. Now she is showing signs of wanting to go back to the nesting box and I don't want her back this soon. I've been told to flash her with cold water and she'll stop but that hasn't worked out as expected. Is there any other way I can go about this?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!
You can put her in a metal dog crate elevated with cinder blocks and food /water for a couple of days. If she continues to go to the nest return her to the crate. Good luck!!!!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Gregory, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Yes, you will need to confine her to a wire dog crate that is elevated off the ground and has no bedding in it. Keep food and water in it. Keep her in the crate for 3 days then let her out. If she heads back to the nest box, put her back in the crate.
Dunking her belly in cool water helps but she needs to be kept in such a way that she cannot nest. You can put a piece of 2x4 across the bottom of the crate for her to sit on to give her feet a break.

 

[N F C]

It can be tough to break a broody. I've used the crate in the past...with some birds it's worked and with others it hasn't. Give it a try and see what happens.

Good luck!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[sourland]

Hello, Georgy, and welcome to BYC. Lock her away from the nest site either by caging her or blocking off the nest site.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Georgey and welcome to BYC. This link may provide additional info - Breaking a broody hen

This is a useful link to take a look at - “How to...” guides. There are very few Kenyans here sadly so we don’t have a country thread as yet. Maybe you can start one

 

[drumstick diva]

Sorry can't think of anything to add, that early responders haven't already mentioned.

 

[rbigokie]

Its been 3months from when my chicken hatched 4 beautiful chicks. Now she is showing signs of wanting to go back to the nesting box and I don't want her back this soon. I've been told to flash her with cold water and she'll stop but that hasn't worked out as expected. Is there any other way I can go about this?

Welcome Georgey, My grandpa always told me if it don't produce on the farm get rid of it cost you. But try the cage see if it works and go from there. Goodluck.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Most people cage broodies; I just block off the nests at night and make sure they're on the roost at bed time. Takes a week or less for them to lose interest and get back to their normal routine. May not work for everyone, but it sure has worked for me (15-20 times).