How do You Stop a Broody Turkey?

[DucksinOR]

We have a 7-month-old Midget White Turkey hen who has decided that she needs to go broody. We do you have room for more poultry, and we cannot let her raise some poults (as much as would would it, we don't have enough space). We have tried dunking her in cold water, but are there other ways (other than putting her in a cage) that will make her quit being broody?

 

[ivan3]

Easiest for all involved is to let her hang out on her nest, and just collect and eat all of her eggs as they appear (just wear long sleeved shirt when collecting in case she gets all hissy with you). She'll eventually give it up (could be several months - but don't worry about it). I'm assuming she's brooding in a safe location (if not move her to one and utterly destroy existing nest).

 

[R2elk]

We have a 7-month-old Midget White Turkey hen who has decided that she needs to go broody. We do you have room for more poultry, and we cannot let her raise some poults (as much as would would it, we don't have enough space). We have tried dunking her in cold water, but are there other ways (other than putting her in a cage) that will make her quit being broody?

If you don't want the hen to hatch any eggs, all you have to do is daily remove any eggs that she may have in her nest. No eggs = no hatches.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

If she is already broody wear a jacket and gloves and remove her from the nest. Take the eggs and put her in a cage or pet taxi for a couple days to ensure she does not go back to the nest. A serious broody will continue to sit on an empty nest if she remembers where it was. In a few days time she will forget what her job was.

 

[DucksinOR]

I have been collecting her eggs. She is not nesting in a safe place, but is nesting in a field close to our house. (Our ducks are too nosy, and any nest we try to create for her, they destroy.)

Will the cold water bathing get her to stop?

I always wear long sleeves when taking eggs, and removing her. She is a little turkey, but boy, dose she have a hard peck!

 

[R2elk]

Will the cold water bathing get her to stop?

No. Just destroy the nest and keep destroying any nests she makes.