How to Prevent Broodiness?

[KWestVA]

I have read somewhere on here that being broody raises body temp, so lowering body temp breaks it. Some people were talking about putting a frozen waterbottle under the hen, or even dunking her in cold water. You can't stop her from going broody, but you may be able to end it sooner.

I tried that, but apparently Cochins are really prone to broodiness. Blondie gave up after the requisit 21 days, but started showing some broody behavior last week (we have had crazy weather and I couldn't even collect her eggs due to all the ice). But I moved the chickens to indoor cages, and I think that may've halted the process.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Don't dunk them in cold water, only cool, and then only on warm days. I did that with a persistently broody Buff Orpington hen a few years back, and in a very short time her body heat actually warmed the water! But once she was wet and walking around, the water evaporating from her body did, I think, help to cool her a bit. And into Broody Jail she went!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Never heard of water dunking until I came on here (grew up in a farming area, chickens everywhere)
I imagine fly strike would happen so fast

Oh also, never heard of broody jail until I came on here

We typically just keep removing eggs and let them get the hormones out of their systems themselves. (I'd guesstimate about a month)
However, I've never been around any that can't stop being broody, and it seems they would all take care of themselves until the broody hormones were over with.

I like having some occasional broodies in my flock as I want them to hatch for me, but they need to be able to take care of themselves and the chicks.
If there were a bird that stops taking care of itself and is forever broody, I think I'd have to put it down.