Cannot break broody...what to do

[mobius]

Hi @aart and ty so much! I think I could cover one of the nests with wire or put the dog carrier in the run with nesting material and plenty of food and water so she happy. Weather is okay to do that right now. The others wouldn't go in the carrier I dont think...Looking into eggs now at the moment, we shall see. I might be able to handle a couple more, it will be a bit tight BUT they are free-ranging now so I am not so concerned about run/coop size and there is roosting space in the coop so we might be okay...

 

[junebuggena]

Dog crate in the coop is what I use for my hens to brood eggs in. They get let out for about a half hour or so in the morning, then they get right back on their eggs and the kennel is shut. That way, I don't have to constantly check for new contributions, and she's left undisturbed. It also keeps a few of my more nasty hens from killing all the chicks while they are hatching.

 

[mobius]

That completely makes sense and is what I am thinking. Self-contained...out with the rest of them and then back in and a dead bolt

 

[mobius]

Now I am thinking I am at The Door Of The Next Dimension Of Chicken Experience (cue eerie music) led by a small but disturbed Constant Broody.

(meaning hatching...where she leads I must follow...)

All I wanted was the eggs! And a small modicum of control. But ~sigh it is not to be...

 

[junebuggena]

Seriously. The one time I didn't kennel my best broody during hatch, the Barred Rocks forced her off the nest to lay their eggs, and they killed all the chicks.

 

[Hensndoes]

I'd give her a day old chick or a fertile egg. The thing is though, she's probably going to do it again as soon as she's done raising the chick. Some chickens are just like that. You could always sell the offspring. If you don't like dealing with a broody, I'd rehome her. Even if you love her, she won't be happy and you won't be happy constantly fighting her nature.

^^^ Yup. Gave my very determined SS some chicks. She walked away from them at 3 weeks and a week later was back at it. She's soup now. Nothing could break her and she wasn't a very good mama.

 

[aart]

I think I could cover one of the nests with wire or put the dog carrier in the run with nesting material and plenty of food and water so she happy.

She'll need room to get up and stretch her legs, eat/drink and poop away from the nest.

 

[wvchics]

I'd give her a day old chick or a fertile egg. The thing is though, she's probably going to do it again as soon as she's done raising the chick. Some chickens are just like that. You could always sell the offspring. If you don't like dealing with a broody, I'd rehome her. Even if you love her, she won't be happy and you won't be happy constantly fighting her nature.

I agree. She is just following her instinct to reproduce. Don't let that go to waste. You could always hatch eggs for others or buy fertilized eggs and sell the offspring. If you don't want to get rid of her, but you won't be able to stop her from brooding. Reproduction is the strongest instinct there is for any animal years and years of selective breeding can't even get rid of it. However, it is a lot less common due to selective breeding. I recommend using it to your advantage instead of exhausting yourself trying to fight the inevitable. Good luck. I hope you find a solution that works for you and your hen.

 

[mobius]

Well folks I found her and she is one smart chicken. She is cosily located under the coop in the run. You know, that area under the raised coop...So she gets locked up every night and wont be bothered by predators at least. She is not out in the woods as I had feared. I am going to leave her there for the time being, as she has access to food and water at all times. Thanks again for all your help!