[beth123]

Evening all

Our hen has been broody for a few days now and we are finding it quite difficult to break the broodiness.  Shes stopped laying and is sitting on the other hens eggs and we've noticed that shes got quite a large bold patch on her chest.  Is this normal?  How long does it normally take for them to get over the broodiness?

Thanks
Beth

[orchardlady]

The baldness is so she can do skin to egg heat to incubate the eggs, don't worry no harm will come to her. The real issue is do you want her to be broody and to raise a clutch of chicks. If the answer is no you need to break the broodieness. If you just leave her she will continue in her current manner for weeks and weeks. Being broody is quite a stress on your hen as they eat and drink very little and so loose weight and condition.

Put her in a dog crate placed on 4 bricks. Give her food and water in D cups hooked to the mesh of the cage and some shelter from the elements, sun, rain etc. Do this for at least 3 days. The cool air wafting around her nether regions should help cool her down and the fact that she is standing on uncomfortable mesh and can't get settled should stop the broodieness.

Good luck.

Orchardlady.

PS If it fails the first time do it again....and again... you get the drift!