is it healthy for a hen to be broody for long periods and then go broody again quickly?

[reagan40p]

I am concerned for my hen. She was broody for the fist time about 8 weeks straight, took about 2 moths off (laid eggs for a couple of weeks) and then started back to broody about 2 weeks ago. She is our pet and we have no issues with her not giving us eggs. I just don't want her to get sick or malnourished. What do you think? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[theoldchick]

Being constantly broody is not good for a hen. Since they don't eat that well or interact with the flock the constantly broody hen may get picked on. I had a hen that brooded for six weeks. Normally I just let the hen do her thing but in this case I removed the nest box from the coop for a week. She got the idea, resumed normal chicken life, but now she is suffering from crop stasis (crop is not emptying) and will most likely have to be removed from the flock and housed inside while she gets her crop flushed out.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You need to break your hen as soon as you notice her going broody. Certain hens will go repeatedly broody throughout the year. It is very taxing and parasites can get out of control. If you are not letting her hatch than the kindest and best thing is to break her by putting her in a wire bottomed crate slightly elevated off the ground for 3-5 days generally.

 

[azygous]

I totally agree. Permitting a broody-prone hen to go broody in a serial manner is not a good idea and, as you have already indicated, it's not doing what's best for her. I say that in the spirit of helpfulness and for two other reasons.

The first is that it's a waste of the resources of a broody hen to permit her to brood an empty nest or eggs that will never hatch.

The second is it's an assault on the health of your pet hen to allow serial broodiness as oldhen has pointed out. Whether we keep chickens for livestock or as pets, it's incumbent on us to give them proper care to maximize their health.

Breaking a broody is as simple as installing her in an open mesh bottom cage (so cooling air can circulate under her and interrupt the broody hormones) with food and water for approximately three days. She will emerge good as new and won't waste the next month or longer sitting in a nest running down her health and having nothing to show for it.

 

[reagan40p]

Thank you for the advice. I always want to do what is best for my girl. I have not had chickens before and was just unsure of what would be best. I will begin the process of breaking her asap. Again thanks!