I noticed that Peggy was acting a little weird on Sunday. She seemed cranky and was fighting with Tina a lot while they free-ranged. I was a little worried that she was feeling sick or having a problem with her eggs, so I looked at her vent. Happily, it appeared normal and healthy.
I realized Peggy was broody when she didn't come out of the coop yesterday morning. Normally, she runs right out when I come up to the door and literally leaps out of the run and into the yard. Yesterday morning, I found her stubbornly sitting in the nesting box like this.
Peggy puffed up angrily and yelled at me when I opened the lid to the nesting box. I decided to leave her alone, in case she was just laying an egg. But, when I got home last night, she was still in the nest. This time, she had two eggs under her--one of hers and one of Tina's.
So, I decided to force her to go out. When I reached in to pick her up, Peggy shrieked and clucked. She pecked me (hard) when I touched her. Eventually, I lifted Peggy out of the nest and put her on the ground outside the coop. She sat there pouting, all puffed up and irritated.
After a couple of minutes, Peggy got over her anger and ran around the yard a bit. But, once I put the chickens in for the night, she got right back on her nest (despite the fact that there were no eggs).
So, I repeated the process this morning, lifting Peggy out of the nest and putting her out in the yard. She had a nice scratch in the dirt and stretched her wings but went back into the nesting box after a while. I did see her eat and drink a little, so I'm not yet worried about her health. Still, I would like to break her of her broody behavior.
This time of year it's tricky, because I hate to lock my girls out of the coop all day. It's probably several degrees cooler in the coop than it is in the run, and with temperatures in the 90s, every degree helps. I think I may have to, though, if Peggy continues her broodiness.
I have read various other methods online. Many people put their broody hen in a wire cage with food, water and no bedding for several days. Some others mentioned dipping your broody hen's butt in cold water, which sounds somewhat traumatizing--for the hen and the human. I also read on Feathersite that you can put several ice cubes under your chicken's butt in place of eggs. Maybe that sends the signal that the eggs are too cold and won't hatch? Anyway, I might try that one tomorrow if Peggy is still broody. At least that method has the added benefit of keeping her cool.
I'll let you know how it goes.
When mine have gone broody, I haven't been able to break them of it, and they keep sitting for about 3 weeks, which I guess is how long it would take eggs to hatch. It does them no harm, but of course they won't lay while they sit.
One thing you could do is just go with the flow - buy some fertile eggs and put them under her. One of our 2 hens went broody a few months ago. I tried to break her but figured, why fight it? We bought some aracauna eggs at the Hollywood Farmers' Market and put 2 eggs under her. Now we have a cute little pullet pecking around (the other egg didn't hatch). It was fun to have something born on our backyard "farm."
You can try a couple of plastic eggs, which has worked for me. But I'm with Anonymous---let her brood. My broody hens rarely sit longer than a week, if I keep removing any eggs (several times a day, if possible.)
Shes Beautiful... how old is she?
I tried placing a plastic ice pack under one of my broody hens and it did nothing. She sat on it all day until it warmed up and she kept sitting on it all through the night!
The only thing I find works is moving them to an open spot (sheltered from the elements). They start marching back and forth looking for a dark spot for about 2-3 days and then they act normal, i.e. scratching for food and clucking.
I place them in a separate hoop-house that I use to "tractor" them in the summer months.
Good luck!
I absolutely love this blog. I just started my small 'chicken farm' in the Hollywood Hills a mere month ago and your advice has been inspiring and so helpful! My peeps are just about the age to go out in the coop so hearing about how to deal with a broody hen is something I'd really like to learn about. And yes, that is one beautiful puffed up chicken!
Interesting. I'll be watching to see how she does. Our chicks have yet to reach the laying age. Ginger is our "Easter Egger". I hope she's as pretty as Peggy when she's full grown.
One of my hens goes broody for about 2-3 weeks at a time. This happens about every two months or so. I tried to fight it in the beginning, because I noticed a decrease in egg production. But now, I just let her be.
Supposedly, broodiness is being "bred out" of chickens, so I kinda like keeping this instinct intact with my hen. Besides, it may come in handy one day if we decide to get hatching eggs or baby chicks in the future.
Also, as a mother myself, I find broodiness very cute and I can identify with the feeling. Why break it?
I got my first egg today!! My girls are 95 days old. I have 6 red-sex links and they are so much fun! I live in Northeast PA (NEPA). I was shocked to find the egg, and soo happy! I thought it would be another month til eggs appeared! There was another one, but the shell was rolled up and the yolk/white was just a messy blob in the coop. Probably a thin shell. I love your blog, and have started my own on the site! Good luck with your broody girl!
Broody hens make for a frustrating time, I know...one of mine went broody on a gumball a few months ago. She's a sweet little hen but not too bright...
Oh, I really, really like the ice cube idea. I've heard of the other ways, and they sound so mean! Our hen was actually so insistent that she was going to hatch something, anything, that I gave up and got her some fertile eggs. I'm a pushover, it seems.