How to Break a Broody Hen

[PremisesMC]

I have a friend that has over 200 chickens, they told me the best way to stop a broody hen is very simple and very quick get the wire bottomed cage but before you put them into it get a container of freezing cold water and before you put her in the cage completely submerge her, absolutely soaking her and then put her in the cage. thats what this guy does and it works for him, he has a business to run though, myself recently with a broody, I just put her in the cage and after 2 days she started eating again properly and she's been ok since but if it hadn't of worked i might have tried the pro's method! anyone else heard of this as a remedy?

 

[galanie]

I do the wire cage but not the cold water. Just being in that cage with air under there does it 99% of the time within 2-3 days. For the few that won't break that way, I either leave them to it or give them chicks. I guess I'm too soft but a complete dunking in icy water is just something I won't do.

 

[pack8088]

I had a black minorca that got broody i just took away her nesting box for a few days and all was well.

 

[galanie]

I have one that I can break that way. But the rest are a lot more serious about it than that.

 

[Joultry]

I have a problem that is the complete opposite of what your talking about my chicken WONT be broody! Any suggestions?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Some hens will never ever feel the urge to go broody. You could try doing the opposite of what is recommended to break a broody, to keep her more confined in dim lighting with a fluffy nest full of eggs, pin up photos of happy hens cuddling their chicks, etc. But it may not ever work if she just doesn't have the right components of broody instincts.

If she were your only hen and you lived in a place where your survival depended on her ability to incubate eggs then I'd say try to push the issue with this hen. Otherwise, look for another hen that is already a proven broody, or a breed that tends to be that way.

 

[CSisley]

Thanks for posting this information Sunny. I've been around chickens for years and never realized you could break them of being broody. I currently have two hens that have their butts bound to be busted!

 

[horsesrule11]

Thanks for the info

I have two new chicks and there polish and I can't keep both or I will have to many chickens and they are very close to each other .
I will have all ears open for opinions if I should get rid of three big ones that aren't very good egg layers or get ride of one of the polish after it grows up????

 

[CSisley]

Thanks for the info

I have two new chicks and there polish and I can't keep both or I will have to many chickens and they are very close to each other .
I will have all ears open for opinions if I should get rid of three big ones that aren't very good egg layers or get ride of one of the polish after it grows up????

I would say keep the ones you like the most and sell or giveaway the others on craigslist. Polish chickens aren't known for being great egg layers either so I wouldn't count on a lot of eggs from them when they get bigger. I have two polish adults and I have them in my flock for some added flare because they are downright hilarious with their chicken fros. I named one Coco Puff and the other Phyllis after Phyllis Diller.

 

[mychookschick]

I have heard of the dunking method, or at least keeping them moist underneath (with a spray bottle or something of the like). If they know that their humidity is off, they won't try to brood.

I usually just let them set, because I have roos and I like chicks in the coop! But, I do have one that likes to go broody outside... So I just boot her off the nest a couple of times a day, and then remove the eggs and that breaks her. She isn't difficult at all!!