Correcting a Broody Hen: What You Need to Know
A broody hen is one that has decided she wants to hatch chicks, whether there is a rooster in the flock or not. Bantam breeds tend to go broody more often than others, but it can happen with any breed.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- A broody hen is ready to hatch chicks, regardless of whether there’s a rooster.
- You can identify a broody hen by her sitting on eggs, making grumpy noises, and sleeping on the nest.
- You can let her hatch chicks with fertile eggs or break her broodiness by removing her from the nest.
- If left alone, a broody hen will sit on infertile eggs indefinitely.
How to Spot a Broody Hen
A broody hen will sit on a clutch of eggs, which ruins them if they aren’t fertile. She will make grumpy noises and usually peck at you if you get too close. Another telltale sign is that she sleeps on the nest at night instead of going up on her normal perch.
Your Options for Managing Broodiness
You have two choices when dealing with a broody hen:
- Let Her Hatch Chicks
If you have access to fertile eggs, you can place one or two under her and let her hatch the chicks. This process takes about 21 days. - Break the Broodiness
If you don’t want her to hatch chicks, remove her from the nest and place her in a wire cage off the ground for several days. She will be upset at first but will get over it.
If you do nothing, a broody hen will sit on infertile eggs indefinitely.
