Need Help With A Broody Hen

[Local Girls]

Hi chicky mommas and dads!

My Buff Orpington is about a year old now and has been broody for about 3 weeks. We don't have a rooster. I'm hoping there's a natural way for this phase to pass.
I'm going to start scouring the articles and suggestions now on this site. If you want to send me some helpful links or tips I'd appreciate it. Poor little chicky, she wants to be a mamma so bad.
Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

Here you go.

This is one iteration of my broody breaker: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/outdoor-broody-breaker.76592/

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The only natural way to let it pass is to simply let her play it out until she quits. Otherwise, you are intervening in some way, which you may choose to do. She is at the end of 3 weeks, which is about the normal amount of time to brood. She may simply quit soon on her own.

The intervening options are:
1. To keep taking her out of the box repeatedly through the day offering treats on the ground away from the coop. This does require a lot of physical commitment from you.

2. Place her in a cage that has wire flooring and allowing air flow to her underbelly. The hormones are regulated by her body heat, especially her breast area. Many swear by their broody box.

As for me, I simply use a good broody and place fertilized eggs under them for next year's crops of chicks. But I know not all can do that.

LofMc

 

[SilverBirds]

If you're okay with it, you can buy her some chicks from a feed store and see if she'll accept them. Otherwise, you need to break her. They don't normally break on their own and she will sit for an unhealthy amount of time. To break her, put her in chicken jail (a god kennel or separate pen). The only thing allowed in chicken jail is food, water, and a perch. If it's been 3 weeks, I'd leave her in their for about 3 days.

 

[Local Girls]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

Here you go.

This is one iteration of my broody breaker: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/outdoor-broody-breaker.76592/

Thank you! You've been very helpful!