Question about a broody hen that just would not quit

I had a Buff Orpington go broody in late May and she refused to break. I tried all the usual tricks, moving her off the nest, blocking the box, even the dunk in cool water method. Nothing worked for a solid seven weeks. She barely ate and lost a ton of weight, and I was honestly worried she'd make herself sick. Finally, I set up a separate wire-bottom cage in the garage for three full days, and that finally broke the cycle. Has anyone else had a broody phase drag on that long, and what finally worked for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna_hill26d ago

Was that wire cage the only thing that worked?

elizabethblack26d ago

Yeah, the wire cage thing. I read a whole article about how those are basically the last resort for really stubborn cases.

the_julia8d ago

Remember my friend's cat that would not stop chewing cords? They tried everything (sprays, tape, you name it) before that cage went on the couch leg. It looked wild, but it was the only thing that finally worked. Sometimes you just run out of options.