How to break a broody?

[jandlpoultry]

My hen started out with 6 eggs, and broke 3.She had 1 hatch, but smothered it, and the other 2 eggs piped but never hatched.So she has been sitting on a empty nest for five days, and I feel so bad for her

. What can I do to break her? She gets off to eat and dust bath, but gets right back on. I considered blocking the nest off, but figure she will crawl in with my other broody turkey and jeopardize her eggs.I've even considered giving her ready to hatch chicken or duck eggs, but am afraid she will smother them too. Thanks in advance for your ideas.

 

[markb816]

do you know how or when she smothered?
What type of nesting and environment she is in? Can you maybe look at the reason she smothered and see if that issue can be resolved. That way you could give her some fertile eggs and everybody wins!

 

[jandlpoultry]

She is in a 2 foot by 2 foot nest box on wheat straw. I found the poult when she got off to eat, and it was still a little wet, so it died right after hatching.I think this is her first attempt at sitting.

 

[markb816]

The mother's instinct is too bring her body/skin (less feathers) as close to the chick(s) as possible to provide them with the appropriate amount of heat and protection. She does this by having the chicks under her, breast and belly, or close to the wing pit, where there is less feathers and more body heat to be trapped.
Having a very soft thick nest made of pine needles should help to minimize the risk of suffocation. The pine needles are strong The needle's length and shape provide good insulation while still allowing ventilation.
Underneath, when there is a thick covering and right amount, they prevent crushing. Its better too have too much bedding than not enough. Lowes usually sells pine needles.
Sometimes a broody turkey will accept chicks that have already been hatched. Provided that they are not too old. This is a gamble, because sometimes they don't accept them. But I have put 7(or less) day old poults underneath broody turkey hens many of times and I have never had an issue. The adopted mother has always been accepting. However, I have heard of others not being so fortunate. You have to really watch them at first. If she is not going to accept them you will know fairly quickly. Its not going to be where she accepts them at first and then changes her mind a few days later. right away she will either love them or not.
But a few days older chick will have a better chance of not getting smothered than a 'just coming out of the egg' chick.
this will also give her practice for next year and hopefully do a better job with her own offspring.
There is a reason why birds, and many other animals have multiple offspring at a time. Mortality rate is high. No one teaches a new mother turkey, it's all by instincts, and unfortunatley, just like humans the kids usually suffer the most from the parent's mistakes.
If all else fails or you opt not to give her any more youngins, then you may need to quarentine her. Limiting her from interfering with other broody birds.

 

[jandlpoultry]

Pine needles aren't really an option, I don't have any pine trees and the nearest Lowes is 45 miles away. Next time I'm at the creek I'll look for some...I've had chicken hens that really stunk at being mothers their first time hatching, but did okay the second time around, so I'll give Sweety another try next year or even later this year if she lays again. Not sure I want to let her do another 28 days of setting on new eggs, so its either give her eggs that are about to hatch or break her.

 

[markb816]

She'll be better with it next year!
In the meantime, feel free to keep us posted on what you decide to do.
If you do give her some ready to hatch eggs, or new-hatched chicks, I'm curious how it turns out. But I agree with you another 28 days will not be healthy for her and probably over exhaust her.
Good luck!

 

[jandlpoultry]

She'll be better with it next year!
In the meantime, feel free to keep us posted on what you decide to do.
If you do give her some ready to hatch eggs, or new-hatched chicks, I'm curious how it turns out. But I agree with you another 28 days will not be healthy for her and probably over exhaust her.
Good luck!

Thank you! I have eggs going into lockdown Friday so I have that long to figure it out. Just hate to gamble a chicks' or poults' life on it, but Don't want her on the nest much longer for her sake.

 

[Jordi15]

I broke me broody hen by locking her in my garden where there was no nest or anywhere for her to comfortably make a nest. I dog carrier would work too or a spare room. I've also read on here somewhere that you can dunk them in cool water (I think just deep enough to cover there belly) but I haven't tried that.

 

[five is my dog]

dunk them in cool water up to their neck hold them for about 20 sec twice a day. this will lower her body temp and make her think she is too cold to warm eggs