Is it ok to let your hens be broody?

[ChickenTater]

I already know that there's no real harm to hens that go broody, but more specifically, is it okay to let my hen be broody if there is no rooster or eggs for her to hatch?

My brown leghorn hen has been broody for about a week and a half, possibly two weeks now. She had just started laying a month ago, and now she's completely stopped because she wants our fake eggs to hatch (I have one fake egg in each of our boxes, and she keeps "stealing" another fake egg and brings them to "her" box to lay on).

How long do hens normally brood for? Will my one broody hen encourage the other hens to be broody?

Not all of my hens have started laying, but I believe three out of the five of them have given me eggs at this point. Should I break my hens broodiness, or is it okay for me to let it run its course?

 

[junebuggena]

Brooding indefinitely is not good. Broodies barely eat or drink while brooding. At the end of three weeks, when chicks would normally hatch and the hen gets up to lead them to food and water, she is very depleted. It can be dangerous to a hen's health to brood much longer. I suggest breaking her, the sooner the better. An elevated wire cage with food and water, but no bedding, usually does the trick in about 3 days.

 

[ChickenTater]

Brooding indefinitely is not good. Broodies barely eat or drink while brooding. At the end of three weeks, when chicks would normally hatch and the hen gets up to lead them to food and water, she is very depleted. It can be dangerous to a hen's health to brood much longer. I suggest breaking her, the sooner the better. An elevated wire cage with food and water, but no bedding, usually does the trick in about 3 days.

What should I do if I don't have a wire cage that I can put her in? Is there any alternatives? I've been making sure to move her off the box several times a day so she can get up and eat and drink (which she does). I've heard that you can dip them in cold water, too. Is that a good alternative?

 

[lazy gardener]

Have not tried the cool water, but some folks report success with that method. I have a hen who has been broody for over a week now. I am putting her in the chicken tractor in the morning, and letting her back in the coop to roost at night (I close off the nest boxes at night to keep her and some of the pullets out of them. So far, she continues to make a bee line to her favorite nest the minute she sees that the box door is open. Li'l stinker.

Yes, I agree with other posters, either break a broody right away (yeah... my broody didn't read the book about how it's supposed to happen) or give her some eggs to hatch.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Brooding indefinitely is not good. Broodies barely eat or drink while brooding. At the end of three weeks, when chicks would normally hatch and the hen gets up to lead them to food and water, she is very depleted. It can be dangerous to a hen's health to brood much longer. I suggest breaking her, the sooner the better. An elevated wire cage with food and water, but no bedding, usually does the trick in about 3 days.

Completely agree on all counts. There it's no benefit to allowing it and potential harm to be had.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I suggest that you answer your own question by reversing the roles and plop down into a sitting hen position in a dark corner, hovering over a dozen or two eggs, and stay in that position without eating regularly, drinking when you are thirsty, and holding in all bodily waste for 3 to 4 days at a time. Then report back to us and report how you liked it.
A hen sitting on dud eggs will often spend 35 to 45 days doing just that.

 

[ChickenTater]

Ok, I will see what I can do to break her. I have no place to move her to, but I'll try the cold water method and search around for some other alternatives. Thanks!

 

[aart]

What should I do if I don't have a wire cage that I can put her in?

I would try and get one, can be found fairly cheap at garage sales or flea markets.....
....great tool with many uses for any chickeneer.
Best to rig the bottom with smaller wire mesh(1x2").
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

What should I do if I don't have a wire cage that I can put her in? Is there any alternatives? I've been making sure to move her off the box several times a day so she can get up and eat and drink (which she does). I've heard that you can dip them in cold water, too. Is that a good alternative?

I just broke a broody by blocking the nests at night. A couple of nights on the roost and she gave it up.

 

[ChickenTater]

I'll see about getting a wire cage! For now, I've removed all the bedding and the fake egg from her favorite box and I put her up on the roost last night. From what I can tell, she stayed there and was up and running with the other hens in the morning, which she hasn't been doing. She seems to be more out of her broody funk now, but I'll be going out there a few times a day to check and make sure she's eating and drinking.