Broody for how long?!

[Fab41]

We have eight chickens, four are approx 36 weeks old, the other four about 26 weeks. Of the older group, one of them laid one egg, then went broody, and has stayed that way ever since.
Her comb is pale, she is in good health as far as I can tell - eating, drinking, being very vocal. Just stays in the nest box every day, all day, unless I lift her out.
She is driving me mad, any suggestions?

[rockybalboa]

We used to have a pekin which went broody every few months in the spring summer. The key to 'fix' her (assuming you don't want to buy some fertile eggs and use her to hatch chicks) is to get your hands on a wire pet basket. Put it on some bricks and pop the chicken inside with food and water (heavy flat bowls because she'll stand on them and knock them over). She needs to be in there for THREE days. Any less and she won't be fixed. Make sure she's not stuck in the beating sun or anything so position the basket sensibly. Gets the cool air to her undercarriage and works a treat. Don't be tempted to let her out early and be careful when changing the food/water as she will probably try to escape!

[Fab41]

Thanks, will give that a try. It must have lasted three months now!

[HarveySpectre]

fab I am on to ask exactly the same. Mines a bit older, but its been a good 3 months now.

[Ruhrpott]

My silkies are almost permanently broody

[CatchIt]

Rocky, I have a broody hen and my friend suggested the same, my question is, can I let her out in the garden as long as she can't get in the nest box? The girls love being round the garden and as long as I shut the pen door, she doesn't sit in the nest box, would this work? Tia

[rockybalboa]

No, no, she needs to be in the box as the key to 'fixing' her is cooling down the temperature of her undercarriage so she needs the air to get to her. She'll just find somewhere else to nest and keep her bottom all toasty. 3 days as a battery hen in Chicken Prison is what she needs unfortunately..

[Fab41]

Sorry for the delay in replying, but it worked! I set up my dog travel cage on blocks to lift it up off the ground. Attached a big yoghurt pot for food to the side, and used a big mug for water. She didn't knock either of these over. I put her in first thing every morning and left her there until 9pm each evening. Three days of that and she is fixed!
The other girls all laid every day too, so they must have been put off by her being in the nest box.
Just waiting for her to start laying now, but very pleased life is back to normal in chicken land. Thank you.

[rockybalboa]

Hurrah! Good idea re attaching a yoghurt pot to the side, hadn't thought of that. Glad she's fixed. It is like a magic cure although you feel a bit mean doing it.

[rockybalboa]

I've just noticed you took her out at night, I never did that but glad it worked still!