Broody hen.......help!!

[Anonymous]

Hi, Mcqueen, one of my vorwerks has become broody over the last week or so. Is it ok to keep her locked out of the hen house all day? I have also seperated her from the other hen as dotty is still laying so needs access to the house.
Any other suggestions please. The girls are getting very sqawky and a bit moody with me.

 

[Davidd]

Hi, as long as she has access to food/water/shade/shelter- yes, keep her locked out during the day.or put her in a wire bottomed cage for a few days-with food/eater of course
regards, David

 

[podstable]

I have a geriatric wyandotte that has been broody for ages despite me trying all the recommended tricks.At the weekend I realised how desperate she is----we have loads of tiny apples falling off trees due to dry weather----she is collecting them,taking them into nest box and sitting on them!!!!!! I wish I had just left her to hatch some weeks ago--I just felt at a minimum of 10 years she was too old---they know best! Ros

 

[dawn]

One of mine is broody yet again, averages once a month with three weeks between. Am just waiting for the contagion to spread and the other to come down with it. I keep them out of the house, I find the only way to break them of it is to make sure the little feathered bottom doesn't touch the nest box for an instant.

Ros, we planted an orchard this year. Wish I'd known we could hatch apples under the hens, would have saved so much effort. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all that!!

When will i know when she is not broody any more and just wants to go and lay?????

 

[dawn]

Stu, she'll stop being broody 3/4 days at least before she starts laying again. The fluffed up feathers will go down, she'll stop being obsessed with trying to get back into the nest box/house, will stop the clocking noise and generally start being normal again.

Both of mine are at it at present, both shut out of the house and spend most of their time circling it.