How To Break A Broody Hen





Broody hens are hens that have the urge to sit on and hatch eggs. While this may seem like a natural and desirable behavior, it can become problematic for a number of reasons. For example, broody hens may not lay eggs, may become aggressive, or may neglect their own health and well-being.

If you have a broody hen, there are a few ways to break her of this behavior:

  1. Remove the eggs: The first step in breaking a broody hen is to remove any eggs from her nest. This will make it difficult for her to continue sitting and will signal to her that it is time to get up and start moving around again.
  2. Cool her off: Broody hens have a heightened body temperature, so one of the most effective ways to break a broody hen is to cool her down. This can be done by placing a block of ice or a frozen water bottle in the nest box or by placing the hen in a wire cage suspended above the ground. The cooling effect will make her uncomfortable and discourage her from sitting.
  3. Confine her: Another way to break a broody hen is to confine her in a small area where she can’t sit and lay eggs. This will make her more uncomfortable and discourage her from sitting.
  4. Distract her: Provide your hen with something to keep her occupied and distract her from sitting. This can be a treat, a new toy, or even a dust bath.
  5. Use natural remedies: Some people recommend using natural remedies such as eucalyptus leaves, mint, or vinegar to help break the broody behavior. These remedies can be placed in the nest box or added to the hen’s water to discourage her from sitting.

It’s worth to mention that It is important to be patient and consistent when trying to break a broody hen. It may take a few days or even a couple of weeks for the hen to return to normal behavior. It’s also important to keep in mind that some hens may be more prone to going broody than others, so it may be helpful to keep a close eye on these birds in the future.

Please note that it is not ethical to break a broody hen by hurting her, or by using any methods that causes her harm.

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