[Raven81]

I have 4 hybrid hens (Warrens), I noticed last week that we were only getting 3 eggs a day but as the weather has changed I didn't think too much of it, knowing that they sometimes stop or slow down laying in winter. 
This morning one of the hens hasn't left the nest box at all.  Mr Raven went to collect the eggs, moved her and she went straight back in the nest box again. 
I know there have been several posts about broodiness but can't find what I am looking for.  I do not have the facilities or desire to hatch anything if I can possibly avoid it.
What do I need to do? I'm not worried about her not laying, just worried it may be bad for her if she is not eating or drinking enough, or that she may be unhappy.

[themagicaltoad1]

Sounds like she's broody. Don't worry about it, keep taking the eggs out, they won't hatch unless you have a cockerel to fertilise them anyway. There are ways of breaking broodiness but so long as you take her off the nest at least a couple of times a day so she can eat and drink she will eventually come out of it by herself. They are usually broody for about 3 weeks then can take a few more weeks before they start laying again.

[Raven81]

Thank you very much for the advice  , for some reason I'd assumed they only went broody in Summer!   

[viettaclark]

I have a Speckledie that went broody for 5 weeks and was so neurotic she upset the whole karma of the group.
I kept chucking her out and shutting the coop after they'd all laid and although she was out with the others all she wanted to do was get back in that nest box.
Ice packs in the nest didn't work at all so in the end I resorted to the dunk in a bowl of cold water remedy. Even that took all day and 7 soakings but I did finally break her after a full day.
I would not recommend this in the Winter!!!!

[hillfooter]

If she's broody she won't come to any harm however you need to ensure she's not egg bound which can be a dangerous condition.  

Broody hens act in a very distinctive way.  When disturbed they fluffy themselves up and make a sort of annoyed growl warning and may even try a few half hearted pecks.  When you lift her off the nestbox and put her down she will flop down into the sitting position before moving off.  Once off the nest she will cluck and scurry about and pirotte in fluffed up head down posture.  She may pick up straw or litter and toss it on her back.  The other hens may well give her a peck or two to encourage her to return to the nestbox.  She may pluck her breast and the exposed skin will feel hot.  If she has these signs she is almost certainly broody.  Hybrids are less likely to go brood than pure breeds generally but I've no direct experience of Warrens though it does seem an odd time to go broody.

To break broodiness you need to cool her down and not allow her somewhere comfortable to sit.  A dog cage raised on bricks so air gets under her works really well but in winter ensure she isn't exposed to excessive wind or rain.  One day in a cage will usually be enough.

If you don't want to use the cage method, repeatedly lifting her off the nest and ensuring she gets to drink while off as well as eat a little will help but it can take a long time.

If she's egg bound you need to do some research on how to help her pass the egg before it causes an internal infection.  If this happens it can prove fatal. Treating for egg binding usually involves providing warm relaxing conditions to help her lay, quite the reverse of broody treatment so you need to be sure what you are dealing with here.
HF

[tstainesmoore]

hybrids only rarely go broody but it sounds as if your the lucky one or not so lucky one. as it is winter she may stop on her own soon, but yes being broody dosn't exactly benefit her health. the best way to stop the broodiness is to disturb her as much as you can. you need to make her feel that the place where she is isn't right for rearing chicks. just keep throwing her out of the house and lock her out or leave the nest box empty no straw or hay etc make it uncomfortable and take any eggs away from her straight away. being a hybrid she should stop in a couple of weeks anyway.