Why do Hen's go Broody??

[minskey]

I mean I know 'why' they go broody but what is the trigger? is it just hormonal. I thought most creatures would want to breed in the spring when the days are getting longer and [should be] warmer.

My Speckledy hen is broody big time, she has a bald patch on her breast where I suspect she is responsible for pulling out her feathers and is a right grump when you chase her out the nest box [goes back instantly] and the rest of grumpy with the rest of the flock.

I have tried chasing her out the nest box, blocking the door stops the rest of the flock from goining inside, I even tried dunking her bottom half in a bucket of cold water to which the result was a grumy wet hen who went straight back into the nest box [hated wetting her too] What do I do? Help!!!!

[frias]

I'm no experienced hen keeper (6 months) but I think it's just hormones.When I had a broody I was told to put her in a sin bin. (An airy cage which allows the draught to get under her. )It didn't work with mine though. I've also read that ice cubes or an ice pack under her might help. Or just hold her at waist height and let her flutter to the ground. Anyway the idea is to cool down her under carriage. Which you would think wouldn't be a problem with this weather.
As long as you make sure she eats and drinks she will get over it eventually. (In my girls case just over 3 weeks)

[Snadger]

I think certain breeds are more prone to broodiness.........silkies seem to go broody at the drop of a hat. Hybrids have had it bred out of them in the furtherment of egg production!

I gave my broody eggs to hatch but they were duff. If you just keep taking any eggs from under her, take the straw out of the nest and keep turfing her outside she'll get sick eventually!

[Hilary B]

There may be some trigger relating to "have laid lots of eggs, there they are, time to brood". Obviously it varies with breed (and individual hen) exactly how many eggs laid will start the process....

[lynda66]

i was reading about brooding eggs a while back, apparently you can make hens that have a tendency to be broody, broody, by leaving eggs in the nest, so i'm not sure it's entirely hormonal, more instinct ...... ie oooooo i layed lots of eggs, i better hatch them.

[colliebird]

broody hens

I've got, amongst others, several hybrid brown laying hens and one of them went broody about 10 weeks ago, and I've taken her off the nest at least 10 times a day, dunked her unders in cold water, put her in a cage by herself with mesh wire under her (to supposedly cool her off) she has food and water so doesn't prevent my other hens from laying in the nest boxes. 10 weeks is one heck of a long time, and this hybrid is not supposed to get broody. HELP!!!

[polo]

I really am of the school of thought that says leave them to it. I have two speckled/maran types that gave been broody on and off for the majority of the summer and I don't think anything I could done would have made any difference. I think if you have tried allsorts and it hasnt worked then hard boil some eggs to leave under her for a month. She might just work out they won't hatch and come out of it herself.

Less stress to all involved!

Good luck

[RichmondHens]

Some are just really persistent. I often find though that they are the worst in their first season. After that they still go broody, but less often.

As long as she looks and feels healthy (not too skinny and light, reasonable comb colour etc) I agree with Polo and would leave her to it. Take her off the nest whenever you visit the hen house, throw her in the air and make her flap her wings - sometimes just plopping them on the ground just results in them sitting there, I make mine have a bit of exercise!

[chris]

One of my persistent (annoying for me) broody hens goes broody whenever the weather gets a bit warmer. She's been broody about 6/7 times this year already.. just about out of it again now, as she's beginning to squat when I walk past them (Thank goodness, beginning to think I should have got more than 3 now!)

[elizajay]

[QUOTE (Thank goodness, beginning to think I should have got more than 3 now!)[/QUOTE]

I started with 3 and when 2 went broody repeatedly I eventually gave up and gave them fertile eggs and kept one pullet and I have continued doing that so that I have some that lay even when I have a rash of broodies. The other thing is I have never had to introduce new hens as mine have always grown up in the flock and are accepted by all. We have the odd spat, but mostly harmony.
They still pretty much give up laying in winter though and I am grateful for any eggs.