Dunking Broodies in Cold Water?

[Patinas]

I left out of town last week and before I left I noticed two of my hens had been on the nests for a couple days but since I was leaving, no time to deal with it. I got back a couple days ago and they were still on the nests so for two days and nights I have been locking them out of the coop during the day and going in at night and physically putting them on the roosts.

I am aware of the "cage" method for breaking them but while I was out of town with friends, one of them mentioned that her grandma had chickens and that when she had a broody hen she would dunk it in a tub of cold water. Never heard of that method so thought I'd throw it out there and ask....does that actually work? Anyone here ever tried it?

 

[SueT]

I've heard of it here on BYC, some swear by it, but I tried it and it didn't work for 2 of mine. I had to do the wire cage method. But dunking might be worth trying. Good luck!

 

[Patinas]

I've heard of it here on BYC, some swear by it, but I tried it and it didn't work for 2 of mine. I had to do the wire cage method. But dunking might be worth trying. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. Dunking actually makes sense in that you're trying to get their belly cold but seems like it would be a real shock to their system but then again, that's probably what they need right? I haven't gone out to check on them yet and I might try one more day of locking them out and putting them on the roost at night but if that doesn't do it, I may have to try the dunk just to see if it will work.

Just was hoping to hear from others and their experience before I try that route. I want to break them but don't want to be cruel about it.

My only worry with the cage method is that I'd have to separate them and I noticed that in just one week's time, both of them were getting chased and pecked by the flock when I locked them out of the coop. It seems in just a week's time, the rest of the flock acted like they didn't know them which adds to their stress of not letting them back on the nest. So caging them away from the others seems like it would only worsen the situation when I reintroduce them to the flock.

 

[junebuggena]

Most of the time, you only need to keep them caged for about 3 days. Dunking in ice water is certainly more cruel than a few days in a cage.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you caging them in the coop or the run so the flock can see them? I've never had any difficulty reintegrating a broody since they're only separated, not apart, from the others.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I left out of town last week and before I left I noticed two of my hens had been on the nests for a couple days but since I was leaving, no time to deal with it.... I am aware of the "cage" method for breaking them but while I was out of town with friends, one of them mentioned that her grandma had chickens and that when she had a broody hen she would dunk it in a tub of cold water. Never heard of that method...

There is an old saying that goes something.... NO, it goes exactly like, "Madder than an old wet hen!" This reference dunking a setting hen into a tub of cold water to snap her out of her sitting behavior. This seems like a much more human way to snap a sitting hen out of setting behavior than putting her in a a cage and allowing her to swing until she gets motion sickness.

 

[BantyChooks]

I dunk broodies. Not in ice water, just in tap water. I don't get more than their bellies wet and it's certainly not cruelty unless allowing them out in the rain is too. I think it helps hasten the broody breaking period especially when combined with penning them away from the coop.

 

[junebuggena]

There is an old saying that goes something.... NO, it goes exactly like, "Madder than an old wet hen!" This reference dunking a setting hen into a tub of cold water to snap her out of her sitting behavior. This seems like a much more human way to snap a sitting hen out of setting behavior than putting her in a a cage and allowing her to swing until she gets motion sickness.

You don't hang the cage and let it swing. You just set it up off the ground with some bricks or 2x4s. You only need a few inches for air circulation.

 

[aart]

"Madder than an old wet hen!" This reference dunking a setting hen into a tub of cold water to snap her out of her sitting behavior.

True Dat!

Cool belly dunk could definitely help hasten the breaking as @BantyChooks mentions,
especially if it's hot weather season. ..but a crate works great for me, helps that I have a good place to put it right in the coop.

 

[Patinas]

Ok, thanks everyone. Yesterday and last night were my third try of locking them out of the coop and then putting them on the roost after dark. If I haven't broken them yet I'll dunk them and put them in a cage.