Am I doing this wrong (first broody hen)

[chickpack2024]

I have 8 hens, no roosters.

My reliable layer, Roxanne (9 month old Australorp) went broody about 10 days ago? Maybe two weeks now. By that I mean she wants to LIVE in the nesting box, 100 % of the time. She comes out to eat in the AM, goes right back in there, and has stopped laying eggs as far as I can tell.

Following some advice, I separated her and put her in a small run I have used to introduce new pullets. It's empty and sits in the middle of the garden. However, it's definitely not safe at night (from predators), so at night, I return her to the coop (she of course gets in the nesting box). Then I take her out in the morning, put her in the run. She makes complaining sounds but doesn't peck and doesn't seem mean the way I've read about hens getting. She's actually kind of docile, until she gets in the run, then she runs around in circles and tries to climb the walls for a bit. Then gets on a bar and stays there until night comes.

Is this ever going to break her? It seems like a long time of this, and she hasn't changed at all. Is there anything else I can do? I don't really have a "cage within a cage" situation as a possibility. This has at least allowed the other hens to lay (the all want to use the same nesting box, so they were essentially laying on top of her). I've considered giving her some fertilized eggs, although frankly, I don't want more than 8.

 

[aart]

You might try covering the nests at night so she has to roost.

Or use a breaker crate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

 

[chickpack2024]

Ok, thank you. I think I will start with covering that nesting box at night.

 

[aart]

Ok, thank you. I think I will start with covering that nesting box at night.

Probably should cover all existing nests because she my just pick another if she can't get to her preferred.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I recommend the broody breaker article @aart posted. I normally let my broodys hatch but had 3 this year that went broody immediately following their hatches so I needed to break them, so this was my first time breaking a broody. The broody breaker crate worked flawlessly even for the hen that was especially stubborn.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

But OP says she does not have a brooder breaker cage. She needs other options.

 

[Squawkers]

I have heard (not tried it myself, but plan too with my next broody) that taking them on a long car ride kind of freaks them out and causes them to not want to hatch eggs. I’ve heard that worked for some people, but I don’t know how well it works. Has anybody else tried or heard of this??

 

[wrathsfarm]

But OP says she does not have a brooder breaker cage. She needs other options.

Oops, I'm sorry....I missed that part in the post.

 

[aart]

But OP says she does not have a brooder breaker cage.

This is a good reason to get one....or three.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/foldable-wire-dog-crates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/