What do you think of this broody breaking idea

[writermom]

I have a cochin mix bantam hen who is broody. I keep taking her off the nest and putting her out in the yard to roam, but she makes a beeline back to the nest box. This particular hen has always preferred her nest box to the roosts in her hen house, so it's normal for her to sleep in the box, but she's normally off the box all day long. The past two days she's been in the nest box all day, all night. She hasn't laid an egg since Monday, so she's not sitting on anything.

Here's my idea to break the broody atmosphere, and maybe get her to roost in the appropriate place from now on. I'm thinking about coming out to the hen house at night, moving her up to one of the roosts, and removing the nest boxes from the hen house. Good idea? Bad idea? Do you think it will work for not only the broody breaking but also for the roosting?

 

[StevenMNielson]

I dont know about removing the nest, but it should work. I am now encountering my first broody hen, and when my wife told me that Daisy (a BO) was sleeping in the nest my first thought was sick bird, then when I saw her all puffed up in there, I lifted her up to find her sitting on two eggs. I took the eggs, placed her on the roost, and will do the same thing tomorrow. I have three hens and only one nest, and to be fair to the others I wouldnt remove their nest too... Keep at it!

 

[canada-goose]

I think it would work.

Vaguely related fact: I read that in the old days, some people would stick a feather up the hen's nostril to break her broodiness.

 

[Kittymomma]

If that doesn't work for you try the wire bottom cage method.
Good luck!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2176186

 

[jacyjones]

I think the main thing is that she is not comfortable or she will continue to be broody. I separate mine onto a concrete floor with no nesting material and with food and water. It takes a few days for them to stop being broody and then they go back with the others. If she can get at eggs laid by the others she will sit on them so you need to make sure she is kept away from anyone who is laying, Good luck.

 

[writermom]

Thanks for the feedback. She's alone in the coop right now, so removing the nest box won't bother any other birds. I plan on moving my three chicks in with her in another few weeks or so. I read about the wire bottom cage idea here on the forum a couple weeks ago, but that cage is currently being used by the chicks, so I thought I might try this first before I mess around with finding a new cage.

On a side note, she's still just sitting tight on an empty nest. Is that normal for a broody hen to sit on absolutely nothing? We're now on day three of her incubating nothing.

 

[writermom]

Quote:
That's funny. I'd get off the nest in a hurry if someone poked a feather up my nose every time I tried to hang out there.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I have a buff orpington that goes broody fairly often and yes, she too will sit on a completely empty nest. This last time it happened I got tired of dealing with her and just kept all the eggs collected but let her sit in her box, though I did make her go out with the others in the pasture each day in the afternoon and shut the coop up. This went on for a week or or so until she finally gave it up and got back to normal.