Kitchen Garden Forum

One of my hens is brooding and clocking and has been for about 10 days -Ive tried every trick in the book, isolation, putting outside the pen even chicken prison under a box in the dark for 24 hrs , but alas shes still broody-

Any suggestions please

It sounds like she's won the game

I've had a good half dozen late "broodies" this autumn; the last one gave up just a day or so ago.

Yours should eventually give up and return to normal. Just make sure she doesn't get any eggs under her for long.

Hi BP

In my experience, it's easiest to let her get on with it, it's nature. As Alan says, keep the eggs out of the way and she'll get bored eventually.

Thanks,
I felt she was winning-she is a white Amber Link and I dont have a cockerel, so was a bit surprised she was broody,Are the other 5 likely to follow suit?
BP

Morning BP

Broodiness is a natural instinct in the hen and doesn't rely on the presence of a cock/fertile eggs. The instinct varies from breed to breed and most modern hybrids have had the instinct bred out - as broody hens don't lay eggs.
There's no reason your others will go broody as the instinct varies a lot from bird to bird.

Hello BP
It is late in the year for a hen to go broody so I doubt that the others will do anything.
If you are trying to break broodiness you need keep her in a good open light area and you must not give her the opportunity to settle down and get warm underneath - also remove any eggs. The traditional way was to use a small special coop (about the size of kennel) with a wire mesh or slatted floor.
I make a small temporary enclosure with wire netting on damp grass with a little water and food inside. You'll need a roof as well - plastic netting is good enough for this - as the broody will make every effort to escape. She stays in here all day but is put back in the main coop overnight but its back to this cage every morning for the whole day.
There will be a lot of crossness and pacing up and down but within a few days she should have got the message and forgotten all about the broody nonsense!

John

PS Don't shut her in the dark because this is just what she wants.

I'd leave her to it now, as it's quite late in the year she'll soon give up.

Mark.