Why is my hen broody, again?

[CMV]

I have a one plus y.o. Wyandotte hen who went broody on me this spring. She was impossible to break, too. I eventually gave up and let it run its course. She straightened out after about 6 weeks and returned to her normal self. Well, she is broody, again- refusing to leave her nesting box, and not eating and drinking unless I lock her out of the coop. I am concerned. I have no roos so her eggs are not fertile. Why is this happening so soon? Should I be more aggressive about breaking the cycle? She got so thin the last time I am worried about the stress of this. Is it normal for a hen to go broody more than once a season? I can't have anymore chickens at this point, so I can't let her hatch any friends' eggs. (I also have a closed flock and don't want to risk bringing in any diseases by bringing in fertile eggs from outside.) Can anyone offer any words of wisdom? Thanks.

 

[debilorrah]

You need to seperate her from the others and give her NO nesting materials at all. She needs to be uncomfortable. It will take 2-4 days for her to break, but it works.

 

[Davaroo]

Wyandottes are not unknown for broodiness.

You may wish to re-consider just what her purpose in life is. The two of you seem to be at odds on this. She is doing what comes naturally to her, particularly at this time of year.
There are no guarantees, as each bird is different. Some could care less, others seem bent on brooding constantly, against all your desires. This becomes more clear in small flocks, where we spend more time with them individually.

Genetics also play a part in this, one which you have little control over. People have been breeding out broodiness as much as possible over the last 125 years. In an old time laying flock a too-broody bird would be Sunday dinner.
But, you cannot know much about these things as they apply to this hen unless you have raised her as part of a long term progeny breeding project.
In essence, you dont know what went into her makeup. Mother Nature likes it that way

Heck, there may have been a female in her genetic soup that was the Queen of all Broods. I used to have one that seemed to go on forever. She would lay off for awhile and then- bang! - back on the brood nest. I finally gave up on her.
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Can you just keep her locked out until night time? She may give up on the whole idea if she cannot reach the nests - but then she just may make another one somewhere else.
Like Debi says, you have to make her very uncomfortable. Have you tried the medieval "hanging wire cage," to break her?

 

[susiestozz]

I agree with the others. It is a big concern when they don't eat and drink and you have to physically remove them every day.

Our girl Maggie is on her 2nd BIG broody moment. When she first went broody we thought we'd lost her - then found her hiding underneath the overturned wheelbarrow trying to hatch 9 eggs.

This time (and after nearly 4 weeks of misery) we gave in to the over-riding suggestions on the chat forum to give her some babies (oh! oh!). A neighbour gave us 4 fertilised and she is a happy girl separated from the others with her own run and nesting area.

So you can go with the other helpful suggestions - or let her have babies

Good luck whatever you choose

 

[debilorrah]

Any broodies get food and water right under their noses here.

 

[CMV]

Thanks all. Food for thought. I have the wire cage, but it currently contains one of her convalescent sisters. It's going to be available soon, though.