Mia Patel
When a chicken goes broody, it can be a startling occurrence. Broody chickens become determined to hatch eggs and raise chicks, exhibiting aggression towards anyone who tries to get in their way. This behaviour can be detrimental to their health, so it is important to know how to stop a chicken from being broody. There are several ways to do this, including removing the chicken from its nesting box and placing it in a cage with a wire bottom to increase airflow and cool down the chicken.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Behaviour | Collecting eggs, sitting on them to keep them warm, turning them, pecking anyone who tries to get in her way, only getting off the nest 1-2 times a day to eat, drink and defecate, plucking their own feathers to build their nest |
| Solutions | Lure with treats, place her on the roost, repeat cold water baths, lock her out of the coop, place her in a wire cage with food and water but no bedding, carry her around for 10-15 minutes, collect all eggs as soon as they are laid, place her outside with the rest of her flock |
| Chicken Breeds Most Likely to Exhibit Broodiness | Silkies, Cochins, Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas, Sussex |
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What You'll Learn
Identify the signs: refusal to eat, aggressive behaviour, nesting
A broody hen can be identified by a few key signs: refusal to eat, aggressive behaviour, and nesting.
Refusal to Eat
A broody hen may show a decrease in appetite and consume less food and water than normal. This can lead to health issues, especially during hot summers, so it is important to ensure they are getting adequate nutrition and hydration.
Aggressive Behaviour
Broody hens can become aggressive and protective of their nests, pecking and yelling at anyone who tries to take their eggs. They may also become aggressive towards other chickens, pecking at them and fluffing their feathers when approached.
Nesting
Nesting behaviour in broody hens includes spending extended periods in the nest box, often resisting leaving even for food or water. They may pace outside the coop, demanding to be let back in to nest, or create makeshift nests on the ground. Broody hens will also gather and sit on eggs, regardless of their fertility, and pluck their own feathers to line the nest, creating a warm and insulated environment for future chicks.
Identifying these signs early can help manage a broody hen's behaviour effectively. Some methods to break a broody hen's behaviour include increasing daylight exposure, social interaction with other chickens, and adjusting their diet to ensure proper nutrition. It is also important to provide easy access to food and water, and in some cases, temporary confinement away from the nest may be necessary to break the broody behaviour.
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Remove the hen from the nesting box and collect her eggs
When a hen goes broody, it means she thinks she's going to be a mother. You'll find her collecting eggs, sitting on them to keep them warm, and turning them. She will only leave her nest 1-2 times a day to eat, drink, and defecate. This behaviour can be detrimental to her health, so it's important to take action.
One way to stop a broody hen is to remove her from the nesting box and collect her eggs. This can be challenging, as she may resist being moved and try to return to the nest. You may need to repeat this process several times before she gives up. It's important to collect her eggs regularly to discourage her from continuing to sit on them. If she has eggs, she will be determined to keep them warm and safe.
To remove the hen from the nesting box, you may need to physically lift her out. Be careful, as she may be agitated and could try to peck you. Some hens will need to be removed from the coop completely and placed in a separate cage or kennel to cool down and prevent nesting. This is known as a broody breaker or chicken jail and can be an effective way to discourage broodiness. The cage should be elevated off the ground to allow airflow and cooling, and it should have food and water but no bedding.
If you have other chickens, they may attack the broody hen when she is removed from the nesting box. This can be a normal response, but it may also send her back to the nest. To prevent this, you can try luring her with treats or placing her in a separate area where she can still see and interact with the other chickens.
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Cool her down: place in a wire cage, elevate the crate
If your chicken has gone broody, it means that she thinks she's going to be a mother. You will find her collecting eggs, sitting on them to keep them warm, turning them, and pecking at anyone who gets in her way. This behaviour is not healthy for the chicken as she loses feathers and weight and also stops laying eggs. In hot summer months, chickens can die from broodiness as they don't get off their nests to cool off and get hydrated.
One way to stop a chicken from being broody is to cool her down by placing her in a wire cage, which is uncomfortable and will hopefully cool down her chest and vent area to reduce her broodiness. This method is known as "chicken jail" and involves placing the chicken in a kennel with plenty of food and water, but no bedding. The kennel should be elevated to provide plenty of airflow under and around the chicken as she sits. The wire bottom of the cage can be created by using a large dog or cat carrier with chicken wire on the bottom, with enough room for the chicken to move about.
The goal of chicken jail is to make the chicken as bored and uncomfortable as possible, without a nesting area or a warm, dark, cozy corner to hide in. The wire cage should be placed in an area that gets good dappled light and a soft cool breeze throughout the day, which will help mitigate her desire to nest. The chicken should be left in the cage all day and night, separate from the rest of the flock.
After three days in chicken jail, the hen will usually no longer be broody, although this can vary depending on the chicken. You will know when your hen is no longer broody when she no longer fluffs her feathers out and she doesn't hurry to the nest.
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Prevent nesting: use a broody breaker cage, or 'chicken jail'
When a hen goes broody, it means that she thinks she's going to be a mother. She will collect eggs, sit on them to keep them warm, and turn them. She may also become aggressive and refuse to eat. This behaviour can be detrimental to her health, so it is important to break her broodiness.
One way to do this is to prevent nesting by using a broody breaker cage or "chicken jail". This method involves setting up a cage or pen that discourages the hen from wanting to be broody. The cage should provide food and water for the hen, but no bedding material. It should also be elevated off the ground to allow airflow to cool down the hen's underside, which can help break the cycle of broodiness.
There are several options for the flooring of the broody breaker cage. Some people use wire bottom cages, as they are not conducive to nesting and help increase airflow to the hen's breast. You can also use a dog crate with the tray removed and a piece of hardware cloth or chicken wire cut to fit the bottom. Elevate the crate off the ground using bricks or by hanging it from a rafter to allow airflow underneath.
It is important to note that the wire cage can be uncomfortable for the hen, and some people may find this method cruel. However, it can be effective in reducing broodiness by cooling down the hen's chest and vent area. Three days in the broody breaker cage are usually enough, but it may take longer depending on the hen. You will know your hen is no longer broody when she no longer fluffs her feathers out and does not hurry to the nest.
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Repeat the process: it may take several days to break the cycle
If your chicken is broody, it means she thinks she's going to be a mother. You will find her collecting eggs, sitting on them to keep them warm, and turning them. She will only get off her nest 1-2 times a day to eat, drink, and poop. This behaviour can be detrimental to her health, so it's important to break her of her broodiness.
One way to do this is to place her inside a kennel or crate with plenty of food and water and leave her there all day and night. Do not let her roost with the rest of the flock. The kennel should be placed in a well-lit and breezy area to mitigate her desire to nest. It should also be elevated off the ground to allow airflow to cool her down. In the morning, let her out and observe her behaviour. If she runs to the egg box, put her back in the kennel. Repeat this process until she starts interacting with the other chickens. This may take several days, as some chickens spend up to six days in confinement before returning to their normal selves.
Alternatively, you can try luring her with treats to get her to move about and placing her on the roost at night so that she can't make her way back to the egg box in the dark. Repeat this process if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken that goes broody is determined to hatch eggs and raise chicks. This is a natural, instinctual behaviour, though some breeds are more inclined to broodiness than others.
A broody chicken will collect eggs, sit on them to keep them warm, and turn them. They will also only leave their nest 1-2 times a day to eat, drink, and defecate. They may also become aggressive and peck at anyone who comes close to their nest.
Broodiness can be detrimental to a chicken's health. They may lose feathers and weight and stop laying eggs. In hot summer months, chickens can die from broodiness as they refuse to get off their nest to cool off and get hydrated.
There are several methods to stop a chicken from being broody, including removing them from the nest and blocking off the nesting box. You can also place them in a separate cage or kennel with plenty of food and water, but no bedding. This can help cool down their underside and reduce broodiness.
