How to manage multiple broodies?

[tcstoehr]

Three of my five hens are currently broody. And I mean extremely broody. They're constantly clucking and puffed out to twice their normal size. They seem to be completely out of their senses at times.

I have a solid broody cage large enough to comfortably handle two. But don't have any secure place to put it except in the coop or in the run. There's plenty of room in either of those two places

Questions:

1)
I sometimes think that one hen got broody and spread it to the others. Is that nonsense?

2)
Is it reasonable to put two broodies in a cage together? Or do they just feed off of each others broodiness? I actually had three in there last night and it seemed like they all sharing a communal nest. I won't do that again, especially in this heat wave.

3)
Can the broody cage be located in or at the coop? I've read that separation from the nesting boxes is helpful. Is that a requirement?

On a side note, this situation has got me about at my wits ends. This morning I decided to have two hens in the broody cage but they were having a thunderdome smackdown in there. So I decided to let one out but the other one fought its way out first. I was at a point of frustration and I grabbed that hen by the shoulders and flicked her behind me against into a wall. She doesn't seem injured but that isn't even the point. Yeah, I know, it was really stupid. I was a bit stunned that I had done it. At that point it became clear to me that it just isn't worth it to me to try run a broody asylum. One hen in the broody cage at one time is plenty. That leads me to question 4.

4) Can I just let them work out the broodiness on their own? I can easily add one or two makeshift nest boxes and slide them in next to the existing boxes. That would leave enough room for egg layers and broodies with one hen in the broody cage. There is food and water accessible nearby. When one comes out of the broody cage another can go in. I expect that it will take at least 7 days per hen.

5) As a general rule, should I remove the fake placebo eggs that I have in the nest boxes? I guess they're no longer needed, if they ever were. But eggs in the nest might encourage broodiness???

 

[Judy]

Broodiness is a hormonal change, more common at this time of year. It is very unlikely that other broodies or fake eggs in nests will cause or encourage it to occur.

Separating broodies is often referred for several reasons, but people do allow their broodies to remain in with the rest of the flock as well. If they have the room, they will generally find a "hidden" spt off by themselves to incubate, then bring the chicks to the flock after the hatch. If you are going to keep them all in one living space, you might want to mark the eggs selected for hatching with a Sharpie, then check daily to rearrange as needed, because they will move th eggs or themselves from nest to nest.

People let the broodies just wait it out all the time, especially if things like using a broody buster doesn't work.

My broody pen is inside my coop and is large enough that I could separate it out into two or three broody areas if need be --, meaning, room for a nest, a spot for food and water, and a spot for the hen to walk around a bit.

Persistent broodies have been known to sit for days on end, sometimes even without any eggs. Hens usually lose some weight when broody even when getting up and eating the usual once a day. Occasionally a hen will actually die of starvation. So if you have one like this, you might want to pick her up and set her outside once or twicce a day, and prod her til she eats and drinks.

Here are a couple of articles that might help. Good luck!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/encouraging-or-discouraging-broodiness-in-your-hens

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks

 

[tcstoehr]

So, I put one hen in the broody cage and let the other two broodies each take a nest box. I put a cardboard box in for a third nest box just in case someone got the wild idea to lay an egg, but no takers so far. Now it looks like my RIR has decided to join in the fun. She has moved in with the BO as you can see below. There's an Speckled Sussex in the box on the left which is hard to see. Anyway, that's 4 broodies out of my 5 hens. Just a matter of time before the fifth and final hen succumbs to the madness. At 90-97 degrees every day this can't be good for them.



I've been researching for chicken breeds that DO NOT go broody. Seems like each and every one is a nervous nelly that will fly over fences, roost in the tree tops, and would have to be chased off the neighbors' roof tops.

Edit: the RIR did not actually go broody but was just taking her time laying an egg.

 

[Mrs. K]

so, I might be reading this wrong, is your broody box for keeping a clutch, or is it for breaking a hen of being broody.

Personally, I would give everyone chicks! And if you pick some non broody breeds and they are raised by these girls, I bet they won't be real flighty.

 

[tcstoehr]

so, I might be reading this wrong, is your broody box for keeping a clutch, or is it for breaking a hen of being broody.

Personally, I would give everyone chicks! And if you pick some non broody breeds and they are raised by these girls, I bet they won't be real flighty.

The broody cage is for breaking hens out of their broody spell.

Non-broody breeds... what are they? I refer to this chart: Chicken Breed Chart
It has been fairly accurate as far as categorizing broodiness.

Every bird on that chart that is listed as a "non-setter" is also listed as nervous, restless in confinement, flighty, avoids humans, etc.

There are some breeds that are listed as "Infrequent Brooder", RIR and BR are two that I have although my BR did go broody.