[beth123]

Morning All

I know we've had a lot of questions recently about broody hens but I need some advice. 

My hen has been brood for ages now and every time I think I've broken it, it appears that I haven't.  I've tried locking her out of the coop and placing her in a cage and shes fine for a day or two but then goes back to laying in the nest box.  She doesn't look very healthy and shes got sores on her.  The other chickens have also decided to start laying their eggs while stood on the perches.  At least I think this is whats happening because this morning all my eggs were smashed in a line just under the perch.

Does anyone have any suggestions?   

[joyfull]

keep her in the cage for a week or more (if the cage isn't protected from wind and rain then let her in the coop over night).

[beth123]

Thanks Joyful.  Will she be ok over night with no bedding? Would it be best to bring her in the house at night?  I know its for her own good but I feel really sorry for her.

[joyfull]

the idea of the cage is to make her too uncomfortable to squat down and stay broody. So long as she is out of the bad weather (wind and rain) and it is secure she will be fine. I tend to let mine back in the coop overnight then at 6am take them back out and place them in the cage. Without these measures they can stay broody for weeks (I had one once who stayed broody for 5 weeks before she gave up on the idea  ).

[Newbie]

Have you tried bum dunking?  very undignified but it cools them down very fast and has worked for me before.

[beth123]

I didn't have to try a bum dunk in the end, keeping her in the cage broke the broodiness.  I will keep that in mind for next time tho.  Thanks