Need Help "Breaking" Broodiness

[LAChickens]

I have a few hens that are very prone to broodiness. I know that I can't stop them from getting broody, but what methods do you use to stop them from remaining broody? At what point, if there is one, when is it too late to stop them?

 

[groundpecker]

To break their brood, you will need to do the following.

Separate the hen in a cage, off the ground, with no nesting material. (Of course add food and water)
There should be no dark area of the cage.
Leave her in the cage for 3-5 days, then return her to the normal pen.
If the hen goes back to the nest, remove her and repeat the above process again.

Remove all eggs laid as soon as you can, during and after this process to help prevent hens from going broody.

There is not point i have ever experienced, when a hen could not be broken off the brood, although it may be stressful on the hen for a couple days.

 

[LAChickens]

Hi Groundpecker,
Thanks for you advice. Here's my unhappy girl.


I will try separating her and putting her in a cage off the ground for a few days with food and water. Alone?

I do remove newly laid eggs throughout the day as I have 30+ birds laying and they all want to use the same nesting box, lol. Removing them often keeps the eggs cleaner and reduces the chance of breakage. I didn't realize that it could also deter broodiness.

She doesn't care if the nest is empty or not. I've been kicking her out of the nest box for over a week now, tried plunging her in cold water (which in this 100 degree heat probably feels good and definitely has made her clean), I do have another coop I can put her in, the flock joins together during the day and splits up at night. She's been a part of both groups and could easily be confined in the other coop. Would that help?

The Cornish Crosses I have seem to be the most prone to being broody. And this one is an absolute pancake in the nest.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I fully agree with Groundpecker. This thread gives other people's thoughts, but the cage is the way I prefer by far. It has always worked for me.

Break a Broody Thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2176186#p2176186


Totally isolated or in the coop should not matter. The cage above the ground cools her undersides. Don't give her anything that could be thought of as a nest or that could protect her undersides.

 

[groundpecker]

You can add other broody hens to the same cage as long as the cage is big enough.
The point of the cage is to prevent her from making a new nest, and to avoid dark areas she would attempt to nest in.

When breaking a brood you should consider

Lots of light and no dark areas
Keep the cage off the ground. A determined hen will make a "dirt nest".
No material she can use to make a new nest.
Remove all eggs will help prevent a relapse of the brood.


Dunking her in cold water is not a good idea, it could cause her to go into shock.