How to discourage broodiness?

[WombatChook]

My dramatic chicken, Sparkle, has gone broody.

She has taken over one of the nesting boxes (the popular one, of course), and sits. And sits and sits and sits. And swears like a seagull any time the other chooks come near.

The problem is, I don't want her broody. She's only just gone back to laying after a 6 month break, and we don't have viable eggs for her to hatch.

I've been gently taking her out of the nesting box several times a day, giving her a cuddle and encouraging her to eat and drink, but as soon as my back is turned she's back on the box.

How can I discourage this? Will it just take time?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Broody jail. Take two dog cages and securely lock them onto each other. I use key chain hooks to lock the two together with a heavy log in the bottom cage to keep them stable. Do not have the tray in the top cage. Put a small waterer and feeder in for her. To protect her feet (this is what I do, at least), put a small block of wood that is only big enough for her to perch on. Leave your hen in there for a week or two, or until she's shown no signs of broodiness for a few days.

The point of the broody jail is to take away the hen's privacy so she has no place to brood.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x Broody Jail ... I use a large wire dog crate, minus the tray. I do have a piece of 1x2 welded wire to place at the bottom with feed/water dish, suspended off the ground ... Air needs to circulate all around. Give her about 3 days, if she's stubborn put her back for longer. Keep the cage in the coop so she remains part of the flock. Works for me but I now try NOT to get "broody" breeds which really limits my selection.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No point in being "gentle" - break her fast, get her over it, and get peace back in the flock.

A broody breaker employed immediately after IDing a broody should break most hens in 48 hours. If you have a truly stubborn bird (which I do ) it may take a little longer, but most birds will break readily with a breaker.

 

[WombatChook]

Thanks - I managed to boot her out of the nest and coop altogether (after the other 3 had laid), but she was a cantankerous fluffball attacking the other chooks. So I've put her in Chicken Quarantine / Broody Jail ( a largish chick cage like this: https://www.petstock.com.au/products/pet-one-your-first-chicken-kit ) until she starts behaving.

I am completely soft, and it doesn't feel right to keep her from free ranging with the rest of the flock, but I do understand why we have to do this. Chicken Quarantine is inside the house overnight due to our coop design, but I can take it outside during the day so she still gets light and air

 

[aart]

So I've put her in Chicken Quarantine / Broody Jail ( a largish chick cage like this: https://www.petstock.com.au/products/pet-one-your-first-chicken-kit ) until she starts behaving.

That's not gonna work, needs to be wire all the way around, like this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

 

[Sueby]

Maybe turn it upside down if that’s what you have. It’s imperative to keep their breasts cool & the air flowing. I put a fan on mine too if its hot out.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Agreed. Turn it upside down and put on boards to lift off the ground. Keep her in for three days. Two days usually works but it's a pain to do it all over again. Not fun your you or the bird. With her not being broken immediately she will be stubborn about it so keep her on wire for 3 days. She will "act" normal in two days but don't be fooled, one more day is easy to take and ensures success every time.

You are already kind of breaking her on plastic flooring. She may act normal after being on wire in one day then wait one more.

 

[WombatChook]

Thanks for the feedback. We'll see if we can turn the cage over tonight so she is more exposed. As it is at the moment, her cage is outside with the rest of the flock during the day, and the weather is relatively cool, so hopefully that will assist in her cooling her jets.

Thanks for letting me know she'll try to lull me into a false sense of security with her behaviour, too. That's reassurring to know - she was a cantankerous fluffball yesterday, but behaving normal so far today. We'll keep her in the box until the weekend (it's currently Thursday here) to make sure she's over it

 

[WombatChook]

Update:. We let Sparkle out of Broody Jail on Friday afternoon, and she was back to normal. Has not started laying again yet, but hasn't gone back to sulk on the nest either.

I'm keeping an eye on two of the others because they're in nesting mode, throwing sticks at their back , and one did a stompy dance in front of another at the same time, but at least I know what to do if they get broody now.

Thanks for all the advice!