Sometimes letting them snap out of it by themselves can work, but it's not ideal. Some hens are determined and will sit and sit and sit until they about kill themselves. I remember my MIL had a determined broody that stayed on her nest for 3 months once. She just wouldn't give up. I've also heard of hens dying after really long broody spells. So it's best (and kinder) to break them if you don't want to/can't let them hatch eggs. Good luck with your broody hens and let us know if the ice packs works for you
Yes, I've been ready about how it can be bad to let them sit and sit. Within a few weeks of having my Goldtop, Millie, she went broody, I tried turfing her out for a few weeks but that didn't help, then left her to it after I was told I was being cruel for doing so, it took her about 2 and a half months to snap out of it and she was sooooooo thin. She's just put all the weight back on but then went broody again, I didn't think she'd go full broody with the weather changing and getting cooler now but she disagreed. My Welsummer has been broody for around 2 months now and she is really thin and just looks unhealthy, so definitely time to make her give up. Wrong time of year for chicks I think and I haven't got anywhere to put a broody hen right now (have some young hens in the spare coop), but maybe next spring I will get my goldtop some sex-link day olds to raise She's such a lovely girl, I think she'd be a great mum.
Thank you