Broody hen

[Tomatoking]

I think I have my first broody Hen. Clarrisa has been spending a lot of time on the nest of late. I do not think that she is laying because we have only been getting two eggs a day from our three hens.
I have read a little about it and some suggestions are to dip her in cold water (which I don't like the sound of!), or to separate her for a week or so. Yesterday, after the two had laid, I took her off the nest and closed the door to the nest, she then ran about clucking away. She stood at the nest door for ages waiting for me to open it again.
She is eating ok, and otherwise is in good health.

Just like to hear what other people have done in this situation?

[Nicos]

I just shut the door to the coop too.
Takes about 3 days...problem is that the other gals have to lay outside- so i tuck a cardbord box away under a hedge for them to lay in. The broodies for some reson have never sat in those to brood. Strange really. Just make sure you immediately remove any eggs laid outside!!
Yes- it does disturb the other gals routine , but they do adapt!

At night the nesting boxes are blocked off too.
Good luck!!

[Tomatoking]

Thanks for that Nicos, sounds like really good advice. I really didnt want to give here a bath!

Mr TK

[Polly Fouracre]

If she is a pet and you love her, do as suggested, harsh as it may seem. If not, then broody hens are much sought after either to sell or as a loan. Or you can set some eggs under her.

[Nicos]

Or you can set some eggs under her.

te he!!!!...I so nearly suggested that

[RichmondHens]

Don't go there!

[BUFFS]

i got advice off camborne2,so after 5 weeks of the broody hen(now renamed "clucky")we got his idea and after 3 nights of blocking off the nest boxes about 7pm, and opening them up at 7am,she came out of it,so when daughter looks after them while we are away on hol,she doesnt have to worry about broody hens,so it does work well...

[Tomatoking]

Well she has been up to her normal tricks again today, including climbing on the roof of the hen house, and standing outside the closed door, clucking away.

I have nesting boxes in one compartment, and perches in the rest of the hen house up the ladder. The bottom part is just caged in, and I usually close the outside door, and then slide the door closed to the perches and nesting boxes, once they have gone to bed.
Shall I just try to block off the nesting box part only? Or just leave them all downstairs in the caged part in the night?

I hope you followed that!
Mr TK

[BUFFS]

just block off the nest boxes,she will then roost with the others and come out with them in the morning,i think they just automatically follow when the morning exit starts...

[Tomatoking]

Ok Buffs, funnily enough, when I peaked into the nesting box area last night, she was on the perches and one of the other hens was on the nest. Mind she was there first thing this morning when I went to let them out.

[Tomatoking]

Can I just say a big thank you, Clarissa is back to her normal self.

I blocked off the nesting boxes for a few night, then in the morning put her in a seperate part till the others had laid their eggs, then I shut the door on the house for the day.

Mr TK

[Nicos]

Hormomes eh?????....who would have them

[MaureenHall]

I've also got a broody!!! Hebe, my Welsummer from the very first hatching I ever did has decided she wants to be a mummy I'm thinking of leaving her to have a go even though I've heard that they're not the best at brooding. Now need to (urgently) repair the spare coop for the teenagers so I can move them out of the broody coop and run!

It's fun this chicken-keeping lark innit