PERSISTENTLY broody hen--new ideas?

[gwenakinyi]

I know the broody question has been up here hundreds of times, I'm just hoping for some new ideas. I've got two silkies that go broody regularly, and it usually takes about 4-5 days in a broody buster cage to break them out of it. But now I've got a dark brahma that is broody, and she's been in the wire-bottomed cage for 8 DAYS and still runs to the nest box as soon as I let her out. I've tried giving her a clutch of ice cubs, to no effect.

I live in the city and already have too many chickens, don't have a rooster, don't want to hatch more chickens.

Is there anything else I can do to break her out of it? I read somewhere that dunking a broody hen's belly in cold water could help, but it's winter and cold here, and I don't want to get her sick...

 

[blueberrychickens]

I guess no one is answering broody questions today. I posted one earlier today too & still no answers. My glw has been broody for almost 5 weeks now!! UGH!! I hope you get an answer to your question. I won't dunk mine in water cuz its just too cold. I want to get a dark brahma, but if they go broody too, maybe not!
Good luck w/ your chicka-boo!
I gotta get one of those broody buster cages.....

 

[feathersnuggles]

Don't dunk her in cold water. Instead carry her around with a cold pack on her belly. I did that for a persistent broody, recently, and she stopped. It's way less harsh than cold water.

Otherwise, you can try moving her from the nest when its dark. Move her to the roost at night, when she can't see her way back to the nest. The cool night air under her, can help remove the broody fever. But, you have to be persistent. Good luck.

 

[gwenakinyi]

Thanks to both. Blueberry, i use an old wire dog crate that I put in the run up on some blocks as a broody buster. I have two dark brahmas, and this is the first time one has gone broody (the other hasn't ever); i don't think they're a particularly broody breed, I just got a stubborn one! She's very sweet about it though.

Feathers, she's been in the wire crate overnight the whole time, so she hasn't even had the chance to get back to the nest for more than a few minutes over the last 8 days. I like the idea about the ice pack though. I will try that tonight! I might bring her into the house to sit on my lap (on the ice pack) for awhile, so I don't have to walk around in the rain! Lucky chicken.