Broody hen getting a cold bath.

My hen Pipi was broody for about 3 days and so we decided to take drastic measures to get her out of it. It took only two dips in cold water and she is fine again.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• hen
• broody
• eglu

[4ensica]

chipman5 - well, that is not my experience, she was just sitting put for ages...not mentioning that in eglu there is only one nesting box and no space to place any food or water in front of her. This seemed like the least painful option and worked a treat. Also I keep hens for eggs, not for sitting and not laying for weeks.

[4ensica]

Hi emraldplec, she would sit on the nest for days and nights without leaving it. Trying to remove her from it resulted from loud complaining and swift return.

[4ensica]

I did not I want to torture the chook. The point is to cool down her body temperature so she stops producing hormones which make her broody. Such hen then sits in her nest, does not eat or drink for days! So a little cold water was certainly more humane then letting her starve. She snapped out of it within a day (after 3 days spent on the nest!). Do not know anything about hens disliking water, mine walk outside in a hail storm happily (yes, I do have a roof for them too).

[Cla900]

this is a common way to snap the broodiness out of a hen.

nothing wrong with it.

[BrittanyPage]

Wow, I can't believe all the mean things that have been said here. Obviously most people don't keep chickens. I have given mine warm baths to calm them when they have ailments or when they are messy and can't clean themselves. A quick dunk in some cool water in the summer isn't going to hurt the animal. Not everyone can afford to just let a broody brood to her hearts content. The poster was right to kick her out.  With only one box the others would have soon started pecking her.

[baffledseaturtle]

Also, broodiness, while in Mother Nature's plan, is only part of the plan if eggs are consistently fertilized. The hen will keep sitting on her eggs far longer than the 21 days it takes them to hatch, if they never hatch...if she lives that long. Were eating eggs even in Mother Nature's plan? I think raising chickens to be healthy and happy is more humane than neglecting them by never wanting them to go through even 10 seconds of stress...even if in the long-term, it will cause far more.

[baffledseaturtle]

It is my opinion that a ten second dunk in water is less stressful than a week-long quarantine period away from the flock...for both the broody hen and the flock. Everyone needs to think about the big picture here.

[baffledseaturtle]

@velvetmoonchild1: Yeah, chickens that lay eggs that are sold at the grocer sure are treated in more humane ways: In the state of California "free range" means the hen can turn around in her cage. I'm sure they live far better lives, free from stress. And the 24-hour light torture must keep them alert and happy.

[shootjohny]

get a rooster

[TheDystructo]

wow I did not know you could do that to break them of their broodiness , that looks like a good method . And no I don't think you threw the hen either ,

God some people are retarded .

[Fenwicky]

@velvetmoonchild1 Ugh, they're keeping chickens for eggs, not for eating and pooping and laying in a box all day! If you have a broody hen having chicks and you dont have the means to separate the broody from the other chickens it is cruel to the chicks- they will get picked on by the others

[VelvetSparrow1]

And she won't starve. Broodies come off the nest once or twice a day to eat, drink, poop and dust bathe; as needed. They do this quickly so you may not catch them at it. She may lose a bit of weight, but she is using far less energy so her food needs are less. Mother Nature knows best. :)

And yes, chickens dislike being in water--getting rained on isn't the same as going swimming so you can't really compare the two.