I need some advice on my broody hen

[LunaMoriarty]

I am trying to break my broody Austolorp hen, Artemis. We do not know her exact age because we got her as an already adult egg-laying hen. She is broody and I am trying to snap her out of it. We don't need her to be broody and its not good for her health. I've tried removing her from the nest, Removing some of the nesting material, however she would walk around, puffed up, squawking like a mini turkey. She is showing the common eating behaviors, and fecal matter of a broody hen, I have taken her in the night from her nesting box into a tub without bedding to try and snap her out of it. I fear to stress out her flock-mate, Nymphadora who keeps looking for her when I take Artemis during the day, Artemis' crop is really watery and its starting to concern me a little bit, Does anyone have any tips on what I should do going forward?

 

[HappyClucker7]

You could put a bottle with frozen water underneath her. That should get her out of the nest.

 

[DobieLover]

Lock her in a small wire dog crate that is elevated off the ground to provide air flow under her. Leave her in the crate for 3 days and 3 nights with food and water. Let her out on the 4th day and observe her behavior. If she heads back to the nest box, she goes back to the crate for another day.

 

[LunaMoriarty]

You could put a bottle with frozen water underneath her. That should get her out of the nest.

I am just scared shes gonna peck me. I will try that tomorrow if its a sunny day and see if that helps

 

[Myrtagh]

Dog crate worked for mine. Had to do it 2x.She went right back broody first time.

 

[Mark Park]

Lock her in a small wire dog crate that is elevated off the ground to provide air flow under her. Leave her in the crate for 3 days and 3 nights with food and water. Let her out on the 4th day and observe her behavior. If she heads back to the nest box, she goes back to the crate for another day.

Exactly. This is the usual fix.

Alternatively, get some cool hatching eggs online and let her hatch them for you and raise the chickies -- how about some peacock eggs? Or some fancy pheasants? Or guinea fowl. It's nice to have a broody. Dust her nest with some DE so she doesn't get buggy and let her have her little bit of fun raising some chicks.

 

[RebelChief]

I am just scared shes gonna peck me. I will try that tomorrow if its a sunny day and see if that helps

Even if she does...it doesn't hurt that bad.

 

[aart]

I am just scared shes gonna peck me. I will try that tomorrow if its a sunny day and see if that helps

You're just gonna have to get over that.
Wear gloves and long sleeves to prevent skin breakage.
Move into crate at night might be easiest.


If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[LunaMoriarty]

Exactly. This is the usual fix.

Alternatively, get some cool hatching eggs online and let her hatch them for you and raise the chickies -- how about some peacock eggs? Or some fancy pheasants? Or guinea fowl. It's nice to have a broody. Dust her nest with some DE so she doesn't get buggy and let her have her little bit of fun raising some chicks.

my family doesn't want any more birds until we move. and we still haven't even begun the process of that yet XD

 

[LunaMoriarty]

Even if she does...it doesn't hurt that bad.

I am just glad I do not have a Rooster. I heard their attacks can be very ferocious