Broody hen

[Anonymous]

Hello all!

Our partridge cochin has gone broody. We've removed her nest box, she's gone off laying so there are no eggs to remove, we've been trying to pick her up and move her out of the chicken shed as often as possible, but not sure if there's anything else we should do ? She's been like it for just over 3 weeks, comb and wattle gone paler, off her food, clocking etc Should we try anything else? She looks so miserable!

Many thanks,

 

[snifter]

I'd actually shut her out of the hen house all together during the day. Pop her in a run near the others where she can't get comfy and sit. The longer she is able to go back inside and sit, even for shorter periods of time, the longer she is likely to remain broody.

Also at night, once dark, sit her on a perch (if they use them) and don't let her go to roost in the nest boxes.

Also Tim suggested elsewhere that popping her in with a young cockerel should distract a broody hen :lol:

 

[Tim]

Yes, I have one young lad that is always happy to chase a broody around for me!

There are some tips here: How can I stop a broody hen

Tim