Newbie with broody hen question

[Puravidagal]

They can stay broody for months without chicks. The main reason I break broodiness is because how hard it is on them. They don't eat much, they don't drink, they pull out their feathers, and go into a trance almost. Even just waiting for eggs to hatch my hen lost a lot of weight. Any longer than a normal hatch could be dangerous for Henna. So could sleeping on the ground with predators around, especially in a broody trance.

Hmmm, months. I had hoped 3 weeks or so and that was it until the spirit moved her again. That concerns me a great deal. Her spot does seem very secure from predators, but the trance effect could be problematic for sure. Oh my! We just love her to pieces, so I will put out some feelers for a cage and get it over with. Thanks to everyone for all you suggestions and help. This is such a wonderful site full of wonderful people!

 

[Puravidagal]

Well, since so many of you folks have been so kind and helpful, I thought I'd update you. Henna has been in chicken jail for 3 days now with no sign of relenting. She seems so sad and she continues to lay down. I visit her, pet her, and talk to her numerous times a day, but still she broods. I took her out yesterday because I noticed she was standing for a bit and she pecked around and got some exercise, ate and drank some but then ran back to her nesting spot lickety-split. Really quite funny to see her run so fast. Seems it's going to be a battle of the wills. I just worry she'll lose her spirit and die. She's so used to being free and now to be confined day and night, I feel I'm being cruel to her. So do I need to toughen up or am I doing something wrong? How can you tell when they're out of broodiness if you don't test it the way I did?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I test them by letting them out and seeing what they do, though in many cases from their behavior inside the cage you don't need to let them out to know they're still broody. But when they're close to being broken it's a little hard to tell without letting them out. If they go back to the nest, they go back in the cage.

Because your bird has been broody a while, it will take longer to break her. I break them immediately when I see broody behavior so it only takes 2-3 days for me, but you might be looking at 5+ days for your girl.