My hen keeps going broody on me!

[nomialder]

I'm having the same trouble. I keep wondering if it's environmental? Or because I don't collect the eggs every day? Anyway, I keep a plastic tub of water near my coop as my de-broody bath. Gently pick up your hen off her nest holding her wings down, and put her in the bath up to her rear end. She will more likely go still than struggle at this point. Hold her there for about a minute, or until she starts to struggle a lot. If you can, seclude her from the nests for the rest of the day. I've done this twice successfully, with another one scheduled today, and it takes about a week for them to start laying again, but at least they're not languishing on eggs that will never hatch.

 

[countryladyNH]

Ok, I have 4 hens and one of them keeps going broody. She has done this 3 times in the last 3 months. I have no rooster, and I don't want to go get a chick(s) for her to raise. I have tried cold baths, I have tried confinement. Each time I've confined her she goes back to normal in about 3 days but this is getting really old. Does anyone have any tips and/or tricks that will make her stop this behavior for good? Or for at least the rest of this season? haha...any info would be greatly appreciated and welcomed. Thanks in advance!

Oh my gosh, this is EXACTLY what we are going through! We too have 4 buff orpington hens and one keeps going broody every few weeks! We did the cold water, putting her in a cage for the night away from the coop, and it's worked, but then a week or 2 later it's the same old thing! We have no rooster and no chicks for her to raise, and won't get any.
This REALLY is getting old. Looking for advice and solutions!

 

[lazy gardener]

Sarah, what breed is she? I really can't help you with advice... I've never had to break a broody. All I can suggest is that the next time you choose breeds for your flock, choose breeds that don't tend to go broody. If you have a hen who is in that category, but she's defying her breed characteristics, perhaps you could sit her down and have a talk with her? If I had such a hen, and no plans or room for chicks, I'd consider re-homing her.