Separating a broody hen

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Moggy A

Moggy A

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I have 5 chickens, and one of those chickens is a broody hen. Now we don't have a cockerel, so there will be no chicks. Now i have been told to put Omelette (the hen) in a "sin bin" for 3-5 days, my question is does she have to stay in the "sin bin" over night too or can she go back into the coop with the other four hens or does she have to stay separated for the full 3-5 days?
 
Hello and Welcome to BYC.

As far as your Broody.... It works best to leave her on her own in the seperate pen. The key is that if possible she get cool air on her bottom:) IE on a wire bottom pen. This usually will break a broody in 3 to 5 days I have had a couple dedicated girls take a little over a week.

There is a great article in the learning center about breaking a broody hen if you want to check it out :)
 
At the moment she is in the run, separated from the rest of the girls, would it be better to get a small cage for her? And does she have to stay in there over night too?
 
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I don't know is she has to stay in overnight - I guess it depends on if she is still trying to get to her nest box. The idea of the crate with wire floor is so that cool air goes under her, and she has no bedding to start making another nest. The crate should be elevated a bit off the ground so air flows under it.

JNB suggested you go to the Learning Center forum at the top of the page - there is a good article on breaking a broody. Broodiness is NOT a disease, it's strong mothering instincts(or hormones). You don't have a rooster so she can't hatch your eggs BUT, if you bought fertile eggs of some breed you would like to have, she would hatch the eggs for you and care for the chicks. Pretty good deal I'd say.
 

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