I have a hen that has gone broody. I have asked on my local FB page and got very contradictory responses. I was planning on dropping in to TSC and getting a wire dog crate for her and placing a baby in with her, but then got responses saying no. Then got responses saying to place a few eggs in the coop with her and then a few saying no. WTF lol I do not have access to a rooster but can get some fertilized eggs. I can also go buy a couple day old chick. Just let me know how to get her back to normal and laying lol
Well, you've come to the right place!
Do you want babies or not? How old and what breed hen? That will determine the action you wish to take.
Wire bottom dog crate... my nemesis.
Though I do use it.
If you want babies you can adopt her a few in the middle of the night IN HER BOX from the feed store, as YOUNG as possible. Past 6 days old, forget it. I even call the different stores and see if they have breeds I want or if they will in the near future I can wait for them. She will raise them for about 6-8 weeks before she boots them because they are big enough. And she WON'T lay during that time. This is one way I get to try new breeds and add fresh pullets to my flock to combat winter production lull from molting ladies.
If you DON'T want babies... simply locking her to another location, even an open bottom grass pen will be sufficient to make her pace desperately trying to get back to her original nest spot. I NOW only use the wire bottom kennel (extra 1/2 inch wire had to be added to the floor by me), to contain them during the night
without access to BEDDING but still inside the protected coop. Raising the kennel has been COMPLETELY irrelevant in my experience. And after I had one VERY determined gal spend almost 2 weeks on that raised wire floor, I had enough and it ALMOST broke me!
Cold water dunks... just cruel IMHO. Broody is a hormonal thing. Yes keeping their belly as cool as possible MIGHT help break them faster. Some are more determined than others. I have some girls who will break in 2-3 days and others who cause nightmares and HAVE to find new homes.
I'm super passionate about broody's. Don't leave them in a cage in the rain or any of the other disheartening things I have read people try.
Yes some ladies will break just by you disturbing them enough times. Not any of mine... who will sit on nothing and brood AIR!
Don't get fertilized eggs unless you're prepared to deal with the extra boys that hatch.
Even if I do "break" my gals... it takes about a week, before they return to lay.
Good luck!
