When one of our hens began to brood this spring we found her some fertile eggs to set upon. She hatched them successfully and since they are nearly the same age as the store-bought chicks it is working out well. However, another hen began to brood and we didn't want to have more chicks of different breed and age. How to get her over the whole brooding thing??
An old time way is to put her in a wire cage, up off the ground so air circulates all around her--as opposed to her sitting in a warm nest. I did this for 2 days/nights, then released her and she ran out and joined the other hens in a normal manner.
I did have to block the nest at night for several nights so she would return to the roost. But now she is back to being a grasshopper-eating chicken again! Hopefully eggs will soon follow.
So, it's something to try with your broody hens. We have ours for entertainment, eggs and insect control, not for meat. The broody-thing is rather a nuisance!
Interestingly, she is a bully to the chicks. While she was brooding, life was quiet and everyone got along. Now she is back and everyone has to scatter!
An old time way is to put her in a wire cage, up off the ground so air circulates all around her--as opposed to her sitting in a warm nest. I did this for 2 days/nights, then released her and she ran out and joined the other hens in a normal manner.
I did have to block the nest at night for several nights so she would return to the roost. But now she is back to being a grasshopper-eating chicken again! Hopefully eggs will soon follow.
So, it's something to try with your broody hens. We have ours for entertainment, eggs and insect control, not for meat. The broody-thing is rather a nuisance!
Interestingly, she is a bully to the chicks. While she was brooding, life was quiet and everyone got along. Now she is back and everyone has to scatter!
