What do I do? I have to broody hen

[bobbi-j]

You can always sell the chicks once mamma starts laying.

Not always. It depends on where a person lives and what the market is. If a person doesn't want more chickens, it doesn't make sense to buy more, just to hope they can get rid of them later. Especially when there are other options to breaking the broody behavior.

 

[13ChickenGirl]

Yes that is true.

 

[Debbi H]

I leave my broodies alone. I have three of them right now and they have all decided to brood in the same box. I have 16 nest boxes and apparently that one is the best. Previously when I had one broody, I tried putting chicks under one and later on that day I found her trying to eat them. Since then I simply leave them alone.

Laughing because I've had crazy girls who all want to get into the same laying box, too! I've got 15 boxes for 27 hens. They always seem to pick the same 3-4 to lay their eggs in, only occasionally using the rest! Go figure! Too bad about your girl trying to eat the chicks. I've never had that happen. Had one that refused to take them, but I think that's because I waited too long and caught her at the time she was coming out of being broody. My bantam always loves "her chickies". It's the cutest thing to see her puff up to protect them when the other girls get too close!