Potential new way to break broodiness

[Bawkbok]

Let me preface this by saying it has worked with my first broody chicken - a Buff Orpington. This is by no means a fail safe procedure but I wanted to share what has worked and see what you all think.
I've read a lot of information here about how to break broody hens. We don't have a dog crate to put in the run and really don't have extra room in the run even if we had one. It isn't in the budget to purchase one and finding one at a resale shop takes a colossal amount of time. I had to figure out a way to break her now. So this is what I did.
She started laying eggs nine days ago. For her first egg, I took her egg from underneath her - much to her chagrin. She fought me by clutching the shavings and bedding with her toes and literally pushed against me with resistance, vocalizing the whole time. I then took her off the nest and placed her in the yard to free range, where the other birds already were. I closed off the run so she couldn't get back in. She flew off squawking and bawking all the way - like she was mad or something. The next day, I repeated the process. The third, fourth and fifth day, I repeated the process. The next day she laid an egg, she left the egg and came out of the coop, joining the others in the run. They were not out in the yard due to weather conditions. Just lucky, I thought. The next day, the same thing. She left the egg and returned to the run. Lucky again or could this be working? The next egg, the same thing. Three consecutive eggs laid that she has left in the nest and joined the others in the run. My thought was three times is a trend. The fourth time, the same result. I am quite pleased she seems to be broken and it only took one week. It requires diligence in observation - I knew what time she went to nest, I checked under her every 20 minutes until I felt an egg - usually within an hour. Her timing varies by day, sometimes it's first thing right after first light, other days it's early afternoon. I've learned on days when she lays she emerges in the morning very vocal and clucking. Otherwise on her off days, she's quiet and more subdued.
I think this worked for me because we have so few birds which allows me monitor individual traits and behaviors. I can see where this would be a real challenge in large flocks as to monitor who is laying when. This process may not work with other chickens we have in the future. It is my first experience with broodiness and perhaps I am having beginners luck. Whatever it is, I'm thrilled. What are your thoughts?

 

[WingItRanch]

Interesting!

I have a pullet who likes to sit in the nest for a couple hours after she lays an egg. If I remove her, she goes right back to it (whether I take the egg away or not). She resists me when I remove her but she doesn't screech or flatten like a typical broody.

At first I thought this was broody behavior but when I left her alone, I realized she just like "alone time" for a while and will eventually join the others. My thoughts on broody is that if they spend all day AND night in the nest box, then that's what I would call broody. If she roosts at night with the others, then she's not officially broody. Just my own measurement of the behavior. I'm not sure what others would call "officially broody."

 

[rosemarythyme]

It "worked" because nothing in your description indicates she's broody. She was likely just lounging in the nest after laying and probably cranky because you scooped her out of there before she wanted to leave.

As far as crates I sometimes see them left by the roadside for free.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My thoughts? I agree with the others, I'm not sure she was broody to start with. At least, not full-blown broody.

My test if a hen or pullet is truly broody is that she has to spend two consecutive nights on the nest. One night is not enough and they need to be consecutive. I've seen too many act broody for part of the day and maybe even one night without fully committing to being broody to give them eggs until the two consecutive nights on the nest. Hormones are involved and sometimes they are not strong enough.

Even if a hen is truly broody some are a lot easier to break than others. We use different methods to break them. I use the raised wire bottomed cage method. Some break within two or three days, some take longer. Others may dip them in ice water to cool them off or do like you did, consistently remove them from the nest. Sometimes those methods work but sometimes they do not. I think how well any method works depends a lot on how strong her hormones are.

 

[Bawkbok]

It "worked" because nothing in your description indicates she's broody.

Can you help me understand what constitutes being broody in terms of behavior other than staying on the nest for two consecutive nights? I'm new at this so trying to understand what to watch for. She flattened her body across the egg, I saw her turning it and repositioning a couple of times before I removed the egg. Thank you

 

[Perris]

Can you help me understand what constitutes being broody in terms of behavior other than staying on the nest for two consecutive nights? I'm new at this so trying to understand what to watch for.

Other things to look out for: flaring hackles; swearing at any person or chicken that comes close; whole body inflation if standing outside the nest, wings slightly out from the sides and open so looking more like a basketball than a chicken; constant cluck cluck clucking when off the nest; generally being short-tempered in company, sending out clear vibes of 'don't mess with me'. Edited to add a photo of inflated broody

I saw her turning it and repositioning a couple of times before I removed the egg.

she might have been just moving it around until the nest was comfy to sit in to chill out or snooze or otherwise enjoy a bit of peace & quiet.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Like said above most of my hens will toss and turn and settle on eggs if there's any in the nest when they're laying. I have some that are loungers (hours on the nest). I have others that will lay an egg, come off nest, mill around for awhile and get back on nest and sit longer then come off the nest with their egg song. (You'd think they layed a second egg)
Hens that will be laying so close to roost time that they just spend the night in there and the next morning there's a egg, This is why I also agree at 3 full night's.

My understanding is when a hen goes broody, she starts collecting her clutch and then stops laying, then she goes into lockdown or a trance (she's focused on sitting) for a few days using her stored food and water consumption. She won't come off the nest unless she's forced to and will immediately go straight back. If you pull her off the nest she most likely will immediately lay down on coop floor and flatten out. A few minutes later she will come out of her trance and want back on her eggs.

Her reaction to you or other hens bothering her is flattening to protect her eggs, puffing up, and growling. She wants to be left alone. (That's normal with any hen, broody or not)

If she doesn't come off the nest for 3 full days and nights. Your in broody mode.

When she finally comes off the eggs after a few days...she will relieve her self, (it's normally huge). She may dust bathe, eat lots and big drink to restore her energy. She might mill around a bit with the others but then head right back to the nest.
Another sign of a full blown broody is wanting to be left alone when off the nest. Any interaction is met with puffing up like a turkey and aggression.

 

[NanaK]

Usually my broodies have stopped laying by the time they lock down on a nest.

If I remove a broody from the nest she will immediately plop down on the floor and spread out like a pancake. Protesting loudly and sometimes pecking me as well. I had one that would bite.
As soon as I turn my back they are back in the nest.

Yes! They puff up and cluck steadily in a rhythmic pattern. To me it sounds like a ticking bomb.

This is a very broody Maggie.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Usually my broodies have stopped laying by the time they lock down on a nest.

If I remove a broody from the nest she will immediately plop down on the floor and spread out like a pancake. Protesting loudly and sometimes pecking me as well. I had one that would bite.
As soon as I turn my back they are back in the nest.

Yes! They puff up and cluck steadily in a rhythmic pattern. To me it sounds like a ticking bomb.

This is a very broody Maggie.
View attachment 4035152

Broodys are the best and most vicious experience at the same time.

Raven puffing up to protect her babies.

 

[Sally PB]

I have only had one hen go broody (Widget), BUT she does it 3x in the summer.

If I remove a broody from the nest she will immediately plop down on the floor and spread out like a pancake.

Widget does this, screeching as she does so.

First sign (I call it her "I'm going to go broody warning"): she will wander around the run, saying, "bup. bup. bup." in a rhythmic way. And she says it just about all the time.

Second sign: she wants to sleep in the nest.

IF she "isn't really broody," I can break her. I have to catch it early. If I see her in the nest at lock up, I put her on the roost and close off the nest boxes. I was able to do this once last year.

Otherwise, I need to get out the breaker crate.

Keep an eye out for a crate at a thrift store. Let people you know know that you want to buy one; maybe someone has one they'd be happy to sell you. If you see one, snap it up. I saw my breaker crate at Goodwill, and didn't hesitate, bought it right then. $12 VERY well spent.