Breaking a broody is mean in my mind. Brooding is natural, it's supposed to happen, so why interfere is my thinking. We've had our 2 Silkie hens for 5 yrs - we're not zoned for roos. When the hens go broody, we let them set an empty nest. It gives their bodies a rest from the prolific egg-laying they've been doing. While they set an empty nest we take them out a couple times a day to eat/drink/dust-bathe/exercise before they go running back to brood their "empty" nest. We make certain to take out other hens' eggs quickly before the broody collects the other hens' eggs to set. After a couple/three weeks the broody gets her brooding satisfied and is out and about with the rest of the flock. I've had some chickens that are acting broody but really only want to be alone while molting and re-growing new plumage. So broody behavior is not always brooding with my hens. Still they need to be taken out of the nest to get nourishment and exercise. I take a broody to the far end of the yard so she has to run to get exercise on her way back to the nest, meanwhile she'll stop to eat/drink/dust-bathe along the way before returning to the empty nest. No need to dunk the little dears in cold water or isolate them in cages - Why? As for broodies driving us crazy, we get used to it. Just make sure they get out a couple times every day. Two Silkies sharing the same nestbox is not unusual.
