Broody Hens

Dinah Dunavan December 22, 2009 at 11:10pm

Our bantam got broody last year and despite all efforts remained so for weeks (longer than 21 days). Eventually we broke first and got her some fertile eggs. She is a great mother and now we have a new hen laying. In October this year she got broody again, we got some eggs, she hatched them and then sadly a stoat (?) got them all. The bantam reverted to normal behaviour and then about 3 weeks ago went broody again! She now has another clutch of fertile eggs under her and we have promised ourselves to be more vigilant against the dreaded mustelids. Any surplus hens and roosters hatched will be re-homed (or something, we're localvores).

Lynda Coe December 19, 2009 at 3:44am

The idea to get a hen off the brood is to cool her down. There are various ways of doing this. I have hung one in a cage with a wire bottom in a tree for a few days, fed and watered her well, and she came back to normal nicely. Do this as soon as you can.

KATE MORONEY December 2, 2009 at 9:54pm

Thanks for the advice Elaine, my other chook is brrody now & don't ahve cvage so just blocking off everyday, yes stressful but nearing the end of broodiness now!

Elaine Hope December 2, 2009 at 9:32am

At last people I don't have to worry about boring with broody hens stories! I'm a great supporter of stopping said broody hen nestling down: put hen a box/cage where they have to perch/roost. 24 hours has broken this hormone driven state although another week without eggs usually follows. We couldn't cope with the stress (us and them) when we blocked off the box.
Cheers

Elaine Hope December 2, 2009 at 8:57am

Just been introduced to this site and thrilled to find folk I wont bore with broody hen stories! We have found like Jenny the key is to stop said hen nestling down is to ensure they have to perch in the box/container you 'pop' them in. Blocking them out caused so much distress for all (us and them) but 24 hours perching has proved effective although another week is passed before they were back to laying.

KATE MORONEY November 23, 2009 at 11:49pm

The other one is broody now! Last one was broody for 3 weeks, going to take home a cage from work (I work in a vets!) and lock her in there in the shade for a couple of days & see if that works, blocking them off from roost doesn't seem to make any difference. She just sits on top of her own layed egg that day or the other chicken's.

Michelle November 23, 2009 at 11:03pm

Unfortunately they can remain broody for a long time.
The best thing is to keep getting her off her nest and blocking entry back in.
Block off entry as soon as your other hen has laid her egg.
It on't take to long for her to stop being broody. One of my girls only took 3 days. She's back laying eggs.
You could always get her some fertile eggs and let her have some chicks.
I've been getting eggs off trade me and been having alot of success with that.
It's lovely having the babies.
Good luck.

Nikolien van Wijk November 19, 2009 at 10:16am

So sorry - duh?! I started a similar thread with the same question.....mine is called "broody bantams..." and now I have just seen all the answers...so will have to think through what to do with my broody girls! - luckily we have 7 hens, so we are not short of eggs!

KATE MORONEY October 27, 2009 at 7:02am

Thanks for all the advice.
In the end I just blocked her out of nesting area and she has now finally stopped lying on her nest today!
next time I am DEFINATELY going to put her in a cage.
Kate

Jenny Freewalker October 26, 2009 at 7:39pm

My previously broody hean is now laying again. So took about a week for her to come back on the lay after l took her out of her little cage.

Poultry in Urbania

Broody Hens

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