If you break a broody hen, will she ever go broody again in the future?

[Gingedsnap7]

One of my hens that I raised this last spring decided to go broody. But she made her nest in the neighbors burn pill. I just found her next yesterday, and she was sitting on them for a week. There was about at least 15 eggs and about half of them had something going on. We candles them last night, and we decided that it would be a better idea if we moved her. Cause the neighbors were adding to the pile. Also my neighbors are actually a church, so it was the guys they have doing the yard work were adding to the pile. Anyways long story short is that she gave up on her eggs and she wants to go back to her old nest. So I'm thinking about breaking her out of being broody. But I don't want to break her and end up never having her go broody again. Cause she was being a good mama up until we moved her and the eggs. I just didn't want her to get squished, burned, or have a fox or something get her. Not sure really what to do.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When you move a nest it's best to confine the hen to a smaller area. Many times they will settle after some pacing.

Most hens who go broody Wil do it repeatedly throughout their lives. The instinct hasn't been bred out of them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've broken many hens from being broody. Practically all of them go broody again later in that season or the next year.

To move a broody hen build a pen that she cannot get out of. Make it big enough for a nest, food, and water with just a bit more room. You don't want it to be much bigger, she will probably go poo in the food or water anyway. Make that nest so you can lock her in it but make sure it is not an oven, keep it out of sunlight and give it some ventilation.

Move her at night and lock her in that nest until very late the next day, then let her out. Leave her forever locked in that pen, until she hatches anyway. Don't give her a chance to go back to the old nest.

This does not always work but it usually does. Good luck next time.

 

[Gingedsnap7]

We did moved her and the eggs under a truck bed topper. But we first made it comfey and even grab some of the tree branches and leafs from the burn pile she was nesting in under there for her. But in all honesty we weren't really ready lol.