If you’re a chicken keeper, you might come across a broody hen at some point. A broody hen is a chicken that wants to hatch eggs and raise chicks. While this behavior is natural, it can cause disruptions in your flock and impact egg production. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore different methods for how to handle a broody chicken and help you prevent any negative consequences. So let’s dive in and learn how to break a broody hen from causing trouble in your coop!
Understanding Broodiness in Chickens
Broodiness is a hormonal instinct that affects some hens, usually during the springtime. The increasing daylight triggers a change in their bodies, causing them to become broody. Signs of broodiness include staying in the nesting box but stopping egg-laying, fluffed feathers, a flattened appearance, hissing, growling, and pecking when approached, and the presence of a broody patch on their breast.
Broodiness can be more common in certain breeds, such as Silkies, Australorps, Brahmas, Cochins, Faverolles, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, and Wyandottes. However, individual chickens within any breed can also exhibit broody behavior.
The Challenges of Broody Hens
Having a broody hen in your flock can pose several challenges. Firstly, broody hens may consume less food and water than usual, which can impact their overall health. Additionally, their broodiness can lead to a slowdown in egg production, as they may hoard eggs from other hens. Moreover, broody hens can become aggressive and protective of their nest, pecking and yelling at anyone who tries to disturb them.
To ensure the well-being of your broody hen and the rest of your flock, it is essential to address broodiness promptly. Let’s explore some effective methods to break a broody hen and restore harmony in your chicken coop.
10 Methods for How to Handle a Broody Chicken
Method 1: Removing Eggs Regularly
A simple yet effective method to handle a broody chicken is to remove eggs from under her regularly. When a broody hen sits on a nest of eggs, her body temperature increases, and she becomes more committed to the brooding process. By removing the eggs, you disrupt this cycle and discourage her from continuing her broody behavior.
To implement this method, check the nesting boxes daily and collect any eggs present. If possible, gently pick up the broody hen and set her away from the nesting area while you collect the eggs. Be cautious and avoid startling or stressing the hen during this process.
This worked with one of our broody hens this year, but two of them resisted this technique and remained in the lay boxes either on no eggs or on eggs that were laid in the box when they got out to eat or drink.
Method 2: Creating a Separate Environment
Another approach to breaking a broody hen is to create a separate environment for her. This involves temporarily removing her from the nesting boxes and eggs, which can help disrupt her broody mindset. You can achieve this by using a small portable coop or crate where the broody hen can stay.
By providing a different space, you remove the stimuli that reinforce her broodiness. Ensure that the separate environment includes essentials like food, water, and bedding to keep the hen comfortable. Place a small waterer and feeder within close proximity to the nesting box to ensure easy access for the broody hen.
This method worked last year for our one hen that went broody.
Method 3: Cooling the Hen’s Underside
Cooling the broody hen’s underside can help disengage her from the broody feeling. One way to do this is by placing the hen in a cage with a wire bottom. The open design allows air to circulate and cool her underside, reducing the intensity of her broodiness.
If a wire-bottom cage is not available or doesn’t work for your situation, you can try a different cooling method. Some chicken keepers have found success by slipping a few ice cubes under the broody hen a couple of times a day. The cold temperature can lower her body heat and make the nesting environment less desirable.
Alternatively, you can dunk the hen’s underside in a shallow dish of cool water. This method mimics the natural instinct of a mother hen leaving the nest to drink or bathe, which can help break her broodiness.
Method 4: Adjusting Lighting Conditions
Lighting conditions play a crucial role in triggering broodiness in chickens. By adjusting the lighting in your coop, you can influence their hormonal responses and potentially prevent broodiness from occurring or continuing.
To discourage broodiness, ensure that your coop has sufficient light during the day, especially during the spring and summer months. Use artificial lighting if needed to maintain consistent daylight hours. By providing ample light, you can help regulate the hen’s hormonal balance and reduce the chances of broodiness.
Method 5: Disturbing the Broody Hen
Sometimes, a broody hen needs a little extra encouragement to snap out of her broody state. Disturbing her nesting routine can help break the cycle and redirect her focus. This can be done by gently lifting her off the nest and encouraging her to engage in other activities.
One way to disturb the broody hen is to rearrange the nesting area. By changing the layout or adding new materials, you disrupt the familiar environment and make it less appealing for brooding. Additionally, encouraging the hen to spend more time outside the coop and engage in social interactions with the rest of the flock can help break her broodiness.
My two hens this year that have gone broody have been unmoved by being moved. They just went straight back to the lay box!
Method 6: Providing Environmental Enrichment
Environmental enrichment can be a valuable tool in managing broodiness in chickens. By providing distractions and activities, you divert the hen’s attention away from brooding and redirect her energy elsewhere. This can include offering novel objects, such as toys or treat dispensers, in the coop and run.
Additionally, providing opportunities for foraging and scratching can stimulate the hen and keep her engaged. Scatter feed or treats in the run, encouraging the broody hen to actively search for food. This promotes natural behaviors and helps alleviate the broodiness.
Method 7: Utilizing Natural Remedies
Some chicken keepers have found success in breaking broodiness by using natural remedies. These remedies are not guaranteed solutions but may be worth exploring if other methods haven’t been effective.
One popular natural remedy is the use of herbs with calming properties, such as chamomile or lavender. These herbs can be sprinkled in the nesting area or added to the hen’s bedding to create a soothing environment. However, it’s important to research and ensure that the herbs are safe for chickens before using them.
Method 8: Secluding the Broody Hen
Secluding the broody hen from the rest of the flock can help break her broodiness. This method involves placing the broody hen in a separate area where she cannot interact with other chickens. This isolation can disrupt her brooding routine and lessen the reinforcement of broody behaviors through social interactions.
Ensure that the secluded area provides all the necessary amenities, such as food, water, and shelter. Monitor the broody hen closely during the seclusion period to ensure her well-being and progress in breaking her broodiness.
Method 9: Seeking Advice from Experienced Chicken Keepers
If you’re facing challenges with a broody hen and none of the methods mentioned above seem to be working, it can be helpful to seek advice from experienced chicken keepers. Connect with local poultry groups or online forums where you can share your situation and ask for guidance. Experienced chicken keepers may offer valuable insights or alternative approaches that could help resolve the issue.
Remember, every chicken is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Patience and perseverance are key when dealing with broodiness in chickens.
Method 10: Preventing Broodiness in the Future
Preventing broodiness in your flock can save you time and effort in the long run. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate broodiness, there are steps you can take to minimize its occurrence.
Firstly, consider the breed of chickens you keep. Certain breeds, like Silkies, are more prone to broodiness. Opting for breeds that are less likely to go broody can reduce the frequency of broodiness in your flock.
Secondly, provide a stimulating environment for your chickens. Offer plenty of space, enrichment activities, and opportunities for socialization. An enriched environment can help prevent boredom and reduce the likelihood of broodiness.
Lastly, ensure your chickens are receiving a balanced diet. A well-nourished chicken is less likely to become broody. Provide a high-quality layer feed supplemented with fresh fruits, vegetables, and occasional treats to meet their nutritional needs.
Conclusion
Handling a broody chicken requires patience, observation, and a proactive approach. By understanding the causes and behaviors associated with broodiness, you can take appropriate steps to break the cycle and maintain a harmonious flock. Remember to remove eggs regularly, create a separate environment, cool the hen’s underside, adjust lighting conditions, disturb the broody hen, provide environmental enrichment, explore natural remedies, seclude the broody hen, seek advice from experienced chicken keepers, and take preventive measures for the future.
If all else fails, do what we did. Just let her hatch an egg! We now have some super cute chicklets running around the hen yard!
By implementing these methods and staying attentive to your chickens’ needs, you can successfully handle broody hens and ensure the well-being of your entire flock. Happy chicken keeping, and may your coop be free from broody troubles!
