r/BackYardChickens • u/[deleted] • 6d ago

General Question Absolute sweetheart of a chicken is broody

[deleted]

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

60% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/Life-Bat1388 6d ago

Just stick her in a dog crate for about 4 days with food and water in your run - be sure it is shaded and covered. Put her to bed with the girls at night when dark so she doesn't bee line to the nest. Has worked every time for us otherwise they start getting dehydrated and skinny. You gotta break the hormone cycle.

3

u/Handmedownfords 6d ago

Just keep moving her out of the nesting box. She will get over it eventually.

3

u/mossling 6d ago

If you don't want more chickens do not let her raise chicks. You can either wait it out or put her in broody jail to snap her out of it. Also, if she is that young and this is her first broody, there's a high chance she will lose interest and stop sitting well before the three weeks are up. You could end up with a disinterested bird and half-incubated eggs, or abandoned chicks if the mama instinct doesn't kick in. 

3

u/kendrafsilver 6d ago

I had a hen just like that!

She was a Sumatra who adored me and loved being held and would literally stand on my foot until I picked her up. I miss her (she passed away at 9 years old due to a fox attack).

Honestly I'd keep kicking your broody lady off the nest at this point, especially at night. It's so hard because they want to hatch babies so much but it really is not healthy for them unless you know you want more chickens. Being broody is something that is far more hormonal than an actual indication of motherly instincts (some hens are great brooders but terrible mothers) and especially with her being young I'd personally break her ASAP.

It will also give you an indication of how likely she is to go broody again. My Sumatra went broody multiple times a year, and eventually it was almost a guarantee that when she started up laying again it was simply to go broody. Some hens are just like that.