Should I Let Her Hatch Eggs?

[BullChick]

Okay, this hen is a brooding machine! 

This morning, she was back on the nest and wouldn't get off. So...I took one of those solid ice packs you put in kids' lunch boxes and stuffed it under her. At lunch, I came home and she was on it like nothing was wrong. I put another under there and removed the warmed one. Came home after work and that thing was hot! 

Now I've got to figure out if I should a) just get her some eggs to hatch out and sell the chicks - which seems like a hassle since she would attack me something fierce and be super sad afterward or b) sell her to someone who wants the broodiest creature ever.

I realize this decision comes down to me, but I thought I'd get your input, smarter-than-me chicken folks

Note: There are chicks that she's been raising that are about 6 or 7 weeks old now. They ignore her pretty much all the time, but if I get close to them, she'll bow up to protect them. If I take her, will the chicks be okay with the other adult hens? Don't want to leave them in peril.

If you sell her chicks she will get over it quickly. If you sell her, the chicks will be okay.
Believe me, though! I understand your dilemma first hand!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Okay, this hen is a brooding machine! 

This morning, she was back on the nest and wouldn't get off. So...I took one of those solid ice packs you put in kids' lunch boxes and stuffed it under her. At lunch, I came home and she was on it like nothing was wrong. I put another under there and removed the warmed one. Came home after work and that thing was hot! 

Now I've got to figure out if I should a) just get her some eggs to hatch out and sell the chicks - which seems like a hassle since she would attack me something fierce and be super sad afterward or b) sell her to someone who wants the broodiest creature ever.

I realize this decision comes down to me, but I thought I'd get your input, smarter-than-me chicken folks

Note: There are chicks that she's been raising that are about 6 or 7 weeks old now. They ignore her pretty much all the time, but if I get close to them, she'll bow up to protect them. If I take her, will the chicks be okay with the other adult hens? Don't want to leave them in peril.

Lol!!! How long has she been sitting now? Unfortunately for the ice pack thing to work I think I have to change them every couple hours, hence frozen water bottles

If she's only been there for a couple/few days I'd give her eggs, or day old chicks while she sleeps

Or if u don't want babies wire bottom cage, also known as broody jail

 

[danielkbrantley]

If you sell her chicks she will get over it quickly. If you sell her, the chicks will be okay.
Believe me, though! I understand your dilemma first hand!

That may be the ticket. I just don't want her stopping the other girls from laying like last time. Maybe I'll let her lay on some eggs and then sell the chicks out from underneath her. If that doesn't stop the broodiness, I'll have to sell her. Sad, but I need the eggs more than a broody hen.

Lol!!! How long has she been sitting now? Unfortunately for the ice pack thing to work I think I have to change them every couple hours, hence frozen water bottles

If she's only been there for a couple/few days I'd give her eggs, or day old chicks while she sleeps

Or if u don't want babies wire bottom cage, also known as broody jail

Hmmm...I actually could pull off the jail. Maybe it's time to give that a shot. So many options!!! What to do...

 

[DwayneNLiz]

That may be the ticket. I just don't want her stopping the other girls from laying like last time. Maybe I'll let her lay on some eggs and then sell the chicks out from underneath her. If that doesn't stop the broodiness, I'll have to sell her. Sad, but I need the eggs more than a broody hen.

Hmmm...I actually could pull off the jail. Maybe it's time to give that a shot. So many options!!! What to do...

Brody jail needs to be of the ground so air can get to her bottom to air them out and cool them off, she will need food and water, many people use a rabbit hutch

 

[BantyChooks]

Brody jail needs to be of the ground so air can get to her bottom to air them out and cool them off, she will need food and water, many people use a rabbit hutch

X2

 

[BullChick]

X 10= 17

 

[aart]

Quote: If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop and I would feed her some crumble a couple times a day.

I let her out a couple times a day(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two.
Water nipple bottle added after pic was taken.

 

[danielkbrantley]

Brody jail needs to be of the ground so air can get to her bottom to air them out and cool them off, she will need food and water, many people use a rabbit hutch

X2

X 10= 17

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop and I would feed her some crumble a couple times a day.

I let her out a couple times a day(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two.
Water nipple bottle added after pic was taken.

I'm not great at math, but I think I'm gonna head home soon and put her in jail. Hahaha...

Thanks!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

we try to help when we can

 

[danielkbrantley]

we try to help when we can

And it works! After reading all the comments, I asked my wife her opinion. She feared it would be a never-ending circle every spring, so...she's on lockdown with a wooden egg (the chicken - not my wife). Hopeful someone will want to get her soon, so the girls can maintain their egg production.