How do you break a broody hen?

[froginthepond]

I have a hen who has been sitting on her eggs for about 4-5 days. I never see her leave the nest. When offered food, she nibbles at best. She's never been near a rooster, so the eggs aren't going to turn into chickens. My questions are these: 1. Are the eggs safe to eat? 2. Should I take the eggs or leave them for her sit on? 3. Why is she exhibiting this behavior? 4. How long does a hen sit on her eggs before she realizes that they aren't going to hatch and she should move on? 5. This is my first time with a broody hen. Do all hens go through this stage? 6. What is the typical time frame that a hen will continue to sit in her nest? Thanks, guys.

 

[Summerlove]

1. Yes
2. Take them if you don't want her to be broody
3. Reproduction, if hen's didn't brood the species would die without human intervention
4. Some hens are very determined and will sit for a LONG time, she is also more susceptible to disease and illness while broody
5. Not all breeds will go broody as it has been bred out of them, older breeds are more likely to go broody
6. Again she may sit a LONG time

If you don't want to buy fertile eggs for her you should try to break her. Kick her out of her nest, give her some treats while outside to remind her how great chicken life is. You may have to do this a few times. If it doesn't work you an separate her in a wire bottom cage for a few days with a fan blowing on her bottom to help bring her temperature down and break the broodiness. (When a hen is broody her internal temperature rises) Hope this helps Good luck

 

[nova022]

My Orpington, who has also never seen a rooster, went broody a couple weeks ago. I put her in a separate pen right away because I did not want her disrupting the laying cycles of my other hens by commandeering the nest box and I had no means of getting her hatching eggs at that time. She was back to normal after about five days and was allowed back into the regular coop with no further attempts at brooding. Hopefully if she goes broody again I will be able to give her hatching eggs.

 

[jak2002003]

The earlier you get them off the eggs the quicker they loose the broodiness.

Just put her in a wire bottom cage - like a dog crate for example. After a couple of days you can let her out - if she goes back to the nest, you need to cage her for a couple more days.

Usually, if they have only gone broody a few days, just a couple of nights in the cage is enough.

Don't forget to give her food and water in there - and a roost helps, as if she sleeps off the ground it will make her forget her nest faster.

 

[froginthepond]

Thanks for your advice!!!

 

[bHen]

I hatch every week so I put chicks under my broodies then in a week or so I steal the chicks back, drop them in the brooder, and kick the hen back out to the breeding pen. I only have one 'wicked' broody that this dosent work on...

 

[jak2002003]

I hatch every week so I put chicks under my broodies then in a week or so I steal the chicks back, drop them in the brooder, and kick the hen back out to the breeding pen.  I only have one 'wicked' broody that this dosent work on...

Why do you do that - give the hens chicks and then take them away to the brooder? Why not just keep the chicks in the brooder from day 1?

 

[Barbians4]

I am noticing that one of my hens has been sitting on the other two hens' eggs the last couple of days. She comes out when shooed out but from what it seems, she goes and sits on their eggs as soon as they lay them and leave the nesting box. We take their eggs as soon as they lay them for the most part. They get kind of noisy when they're laying so we usually go right out there and check to see if they're finished. Is she starting to get broody? She is about 10 months old. All three hens are Red Stars.

 

[netty74]

I have 2 broody hens , can I put them both in the same broody breaker ??? I have 2 wire bottom crates . Or is it better to seperate them ??

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If you have 2 cages, it would be best to separate them. They'll need food and water inside the cage, and when you put them inside, they are NOT going to be happy. If they're together they'll at least make a mess of their food and water, they may fight. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide!