Multiple broody breaking - help, please!

[DiannaDi]

I have four adult hens right now, and *three* are broody. One has been broody for over 10 weeks. She incubated one egg, but abandoned it on it's last day (I put it in the incubator and it hatched fine). None of my hens has ever been a mama before. I do have a rooster but am not interested in any of the broodies hatching babies right now (I have 9 eggs in my incubator). I am tired of getting <2 eggs a week and my one non-broody hen is tired of receiving all of my roo's attention.

I have tried breaking the original broody by kicking her out of the box several times a day, but she apparently has more patience than I do.

What is a good (humane) way of breaking more than one broody at a time? I am considering cutting off access to the coop, except at night. They have food and water in the run. Has anyone tried this? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[Silkie2]

dunking them just up to their stomachs in cold water worked well for some people i know. I personally haven't tried it (mainly because i'm not to bothered by my broodies), but it is something you might want to look into

 

[lazy gardener]

Simply kicking her off the nest several times per day is not going to break her broodiness. All you are doing is providing a minor inconvenience to her day. She must be removed from the nest ALL day and ALL night EVERY day and night until she no longer acts broody. I can usually break any broody within 3 - 4 days. My routine: In the morning, I feed the birds. Then I gather up the broody and stick her in a chicken tractor which is stocked with feed and water, and has plenty of fresh greens and shade. She spends the day in the tractor. In the evening, I block off the nest boxes, especially her favorite box. I let her out of the tractor. She marches into the coop, perhaps spending a bit of time telling me how much she hates me. (Last broody felt like she had to express her ire by attacking my sneakers!) In the morning, I open nest boxes, feed birds, gather broody, put her in the tractor... rinse and repeat!

 

[Naser]

Broody cage is the best solution

 

[aart]

What is a good (humane) way of breaking more than one broody at a time?

You might not think this is 'humane'...but it works well, I have multiple crates if I had more than one broody at at time.

 

[lazy gardener]

Breaking a broody is far more humane than letting her sit for days on end as she looses condition which will put her at risk of parasites and illness.

 

[DiannaDi]

You might not think this is 'humane'...but it works well, I have multiple crates if I had more than one broody at at time.
View attachment 1443396

I think that is perfectly humane!!

 

[DiannaDi]

So, today we started breaking the broads. I have a very large dog crate, and they are all hanging out there for the foreseeable future (with food & water). Wish me luck!