How to Break a Broody Hen

[gigelus2k13]

Somebody on this site wrote that they use ice cubes in the nest to break their broody hen. She places a few cubes under the broody hen and as she sits on them they cool her body temp down once they are melted away she thinks she hatched eggs. I never tried it myself but I will if my EE goes broody again.

Good luck with that! I used freeze pads, but my BO kept warming them until they felt hot to the touch. After the sixth pad, I knew she won the game, so I gave up.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

OMG, my BO has gone broody for the 7th time this year. God help me.

And the other BO hate it when she goes broody and bully's her and I can tell they tussled today because the bully BO has bite marks out of her comb and wattles.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Today I gave a broody hen the cool water treatment, the first time I ever tried doing this. I had read that this treatment works because it not only makes a change for the hen from warm & dry to cold & wet, but her efforts to preen & re-arrange the wet feathers also helps re-program their little minds.

I am curious to see if she wants to continue brooding tomorrow...

Hey, I was just wondering, did this work for your broody the days following? I don't have a wire cage, so the cool water method seems mighty tempting right now. Thank you!

 

[twinzmom]

We have had success with the broody breaker but our last BO was not giving in. After 5 days in the "chicken jail" she was still puffing up and being broody. So I suggested that we try the cold water treatment, I didn't want her to be isolated for too long, we'll we dunked her up to her wings and swooshed her around a little and dunked again for good measure. Then out into the run she went and she hasn't returned to the nests yet, (3 days so far). Next time were going to try this first!

 

[dianalhanson]

Thank you. I sat Jennie, in some cool water this morning. She was not real happy
but tolerated. Then I closed the coop off so she can't go in, of course neither can
the others so giving up those eggs as well. But if it helps will be worth it. She is
foraging right now and has eaten and drank water. I will let you know how the day
goes.

 

[Farmer Viola]

An update on my broody.. she is no longer broody! Yippee!

The cold water method didn't work to change her behavior. I purchased a 24x19 wire cage for $10, set it up on blocks in the coop, and she stayed in chicken prison for 3 days/2 nights. When I released her, she was back to her usual self. I also noticed a change in her voice when she was broody, and it has reverted back to normal now.

 

[dianalhanson]

Can you tell me where you purchased the wire cage for $10.00? I may have
to get one for my broody Jenny.
Thanks,

 

[Farmer Viola]

Oh! it was from Craig's List. Good luck!!

 

[melinda653]

My little Rhode Island Red hen, Rosie, went broody this morning. She laid an egg, the whole time making the "motherly clicking" noise I saw some people mention here. First time I ever heard that. Then she just refused to get off the nest. I kept kicking her out and she kept going back. I kicked her out of the coop to go foraging in the woods, which is her favorite thing in the world to do and she came running back and jumped into the old coop I had left open. The old coop had chicken wire on the bottom so I propped it up and made it into a "broody buster." I saw that it said to put them in there for 3-4 days or until they lay an egg. Since she laid one this morning, I am confused as to whether or not she is actually broody. Do they go broody immediately after laying an egg? And if she does lay an egg, does that mean she is definitely over it? How will I know for sure? My flock only consists of one other hen, so keeping them apart kind of sucks because they are best buds. Any help you can give would be great.

 

[dianalhanson]

I have a broody hen. We are in the process of breaking the cycle. I only have 4 hensl.
Mine did the same clucking sound. Puffs up her feathers. I used the bath method.
It is seeming to work. Just put her in some cool water, just her tummy. She wasn't
a real fan of it but tolerated. I then dried her off and closed off the coop. She would
go back in as soon as I would open it up, then another cool bath and closed off the nests. I have
two nests. She has slept up on the roost for the last two nights now so we are making progress.
I hear some are more determined than others. Really sad, I feel sorry for them as it must
not only be hormonal but emotional as well. Good luck!