[Shoskyns]

I posted before about one of my bantam Orpingtons who had been broody for over a month...  I've now had another one broody for 3 weeks.  She has been in the sin bin for 3 whole weeks...  She gets to free range for 2-5 hours a day but the rest of the time she's in the wire dog crate up on a wire table.  She is STILL broody after all this time in the sinbin.  Now, the first one that was broody for over 5 weeks has gone broody again.  The pop hole is closed so that she can't go into the nest box and she is coming back to the pop hole every 5 minutes to see if it's open.  She is SOOOO desperate to get in that nest box.  I am dunking the two broodies in a water bucket every day (the one that's been broody for 3 weeks I have been dunking in cold water twice a day for a week).  I just don't know what else to do.  The one that was broody for 5 weeks definitely lost a lot of weight and condition while she was broody and I hate to think what it's going to do to her if she's broody for another 5 weeks.  The 3 week broody is also starting to show signs of not being on top form. 

My neighbour used to keep chickens 30 years ago and she said they just used to leave them to be broody, there wasn't any of this 'breaking business'.  ARRGHHH!

On a funny note - we've had a couple of hail storms today and it provides great comedy value watching the girls run for cover!

[Shoskyns]

ARRGHHH!  I've just found that one of them has made a cosy nest under a bush in the garden.    Am I going to have to keep her cooped up all day?  I've only got one sin bin. 

[ANHBUC]

You can always feed them growers pellets if they are not laying.  This will fatten them back up ready for winter.   

[wildwitchy]

I've always just let mine do whats natural for them. I don't believe in all this breaking broodies etc. I would soo object if it was me and I desired childen getting thrown in a bucket of cold water. 

[gracie]

My orps have gone broody 3 times this year . I make sure I get them up to eat and drink in the morning. They then sit in the nest box but once the others have laid the poop door is shut until dusk. I make sure ACV is in water give them a few sneaky meal worms for protein and a cuddle if I catch them. I don't dunk them or cage them and so far as far as I have seen no side effects other than girls who want babies but aren't going to get them

[Hen 1-0 Fox]

I did what you are doing with my broody silver Sussex apart from I left her in the broody cage 24/7 no free ranging. After three days she was back to her old self

[Shoskyns]

Thanks for your replies everyone.  It's so hard to know what is best for the chicken as I can see how the one that was previously broody for 5 weeks is in a much poorer condition than the others.  It can't be good for them to cut down on their food and water for so long. That is my main reason for wanting to stop the broodiness.  I am very glad to report that they have both stopped being broody today and seem pretty much back to normal. 

One of the things I wonder about is if it is normal for them to stay broody for so long.  Those of you who let nature take its course and don't try and break the broodiness, how long do yours stay broody for?  Do you notice a drop in condition after a while? 

I've just made them all a lovely new and dry dust bath (it's a struggle for them to find a dry place at the moment) and they are all blissfully fluffing themselves up and scratching away together. 

[Aunt Sally]

They are noted for going broody at the drop of an egg!

[wildwitchy]

I've had orpingtons & brahmas. Both are good broodies. I've just got them off the nest a few times a day for poo's etc and then when they come out of their daze I've offered them food and water. Always check for lice etc as when they're sitting they're more of a target. Not ever had any problem with them losing condition. I had used to feed them chick crumb which is more nutritious.