Cannot break broody...what to do

[mobius]

I have posted about my broody GLW before. She has been broody all spring and summer it seems. I try to break her by putting her in the broody jail. After three days she joins the flock. A week later she is on the nest again. Over and over again...this has happened at least six times.

I have recently started my flock free-ranging around my 1 acre. They are doing well. Of course the broody hen ran off and started a nest a week ago. Today she showed up in fine fettle to eat and dust bathe. I closed her in the yard for the moment.

I just don't know what to do at this point. Her nest is well hidden in the woods, she is in underbrush and there is no way i could find her nest unless she led me to it(the chickens almost literally disappear in the underbrush and bushes).

I am so tired of this! Exhausted really...and tempted to just let her have her nest. Please advise. She is a determined little girl. There is no rooster so the eggs are not fertilized. I do not have room for more chickens (although I would love that). She is about 18 months old and started being broody at POL. And Will. Not. Stop.

Help much appreciated! Please!

 

[mobius]

@oldhenlikesdogs ? @lazy gardener ? @casportpony lol not trying to leave anyone out
@Miss Lydia? @aart ?

 

[casportpony]

Will she stay broody if you give her a nest in a safe place? If so, maybe find one fertilized egg fro a neighbor and let her hatch it? Or maybe sell her to someone looking for a good broody?

 

[mobius]

Oh thanks! Yes she would stay broody if she was on one of the nests in the coop. Maybe that is a better idea at this point?

Hey Montana peeps, broody hen for rent!

Of COURSE she is my favorite hen! I don't want to sell her...I will also post on the Montana thread...

 

[casportpony]

Oh thanks! Yes she would stay broody if she was on one of the nests in the coop. Maybe that is a better idea at this point?

That's what I would do. Afterall, what's one or two more, right?

 

[mobius]

 

[Nupe]

3 days may simply not be enough for broody jail. What does the broody cage look like? I wasn't able to get my broody in a wire bottom cage so I put a small roost with a fan blowing at it in my chicken hospital (dog kennel). She had food and water 24/7. It took about 5 days to break her. The easiest way to tell if she was still broody is I would offer her a treat by hand every day. While still broody she would puff up like a turkey and chatter at me, even if she accepted the treat.

 

[mobius]

ok good info@Nupe. The reason I would release her was I would let her out after three days to see if she returned to nest and she wouldn't, she would roost with the flock etc. Then a week later .

Right, dog kennel, with icewater bottle under her etc. in the run where she could see the other chickens.

 

[casportpony]

ok good info@Nupe. The reason I would release her was I would let her out after three days to see if she returned to nest and she wouldn't, she would roost with the flock etc. Then a week later .

She returns to an empty nest?

 

[Mylied]

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.