Setting on empty nest

[doxies1]

One of my best Marans hens started setting in a horse feeder. At first she layed off and on, and now not at all. What do I do to get her to stop setting on the empty nest? How about putting her in a crate/pen with a wire bottom and no bedding?

 

[sumi]

It sounds like your hen may be broody and if that is the case putting her in a wire bottom cage should help. When a hen goes broody her body temperature goes up and when you put them on a wire bottom like that it gets very difficult for them to maintain that elevated body temp, so after an average of 3-5 days they will stop being broody. Good luck!