Broody Hen!

[Nick N]

Hi

I have a broody hen (a Maran) who is now sitting in the hen house all day and refusing to come out. I have pushed her out a few times but she insists on going back. We have no rooster. The other 3 are Rhode Island Reds and they are fine. Has anyone got any tips for breaking her out of her broodiness?

Thanks

Nick

[poultrychat]

Hi Nick - it can depend on the chicken as to how determined she is to sit, sometimes you can break the habit by simply removing her as frequently as possible, making sure you collect any eggs that may be under her, and other hens you have to put them in a seperate hutch, make them as uncomfortable as possible and then the habit can be broken in about 3 days - also try to put her somewhere cool, warmth makes them want to sit more.

Good luck

[notmilk]

3 days! my maran (bantam) has been broody now for 3 weeks!
I turf her out each morning and afternoon so she eats and drinks but she's pretty determined!
i have tried cooling her down with a fine mist spray from the hose, leaving the straw out of the nesting box to make it uncomfortable (though i did feel guilty so now it's back), and blocking off access to the nesting box for most of the day and sometimes night.
No joy so far, we've just accepted the fact and hope she comes round soon...

[Mucky Lizz!!]

Hi,
The old way to stop a broody was to put a bucket over it for 24hours (I suppose a small cardboard box would do the same) leaving it in the dark messes with its body clock, being cramped up unable to move and uncomfortable is the key to stop the broodyness. If the 24hours doesn't work you can do it again it won't harm the chicken.
Or you can let it run its coarse, when it realises that nothing is hatching after 4 weeks or so it will come off the nest on its own, although saying this I have a silkie who this year sat for 2 solid months until the 2nd batch of eggs hatched, after 2 weeks of rearing the pheasants I had put under her she is now sat again on more pheasant eggs!! I wish I had a garden full of hens like her, my electric bill wouldn't be as high as it is!!!
Hope the bucket trick works!!