How to Recognize the Broody Hen

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  Chickens who have stopped perching at night may be exhibiting broody behavior.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  Watch for the broody hen to stay on the nest. Simply because a hen is found on a nest does not mean she is a broody hen. Hens laying eggs are going to be found on the nest at various times of the day. Most hens will have laid their daily eggs by noon so any hen still found on the nest in the afternoon may be a broody hen wanting to set. If she is on the nest each afternoon for more than three days in a row, chances are she is a broody hen.
  
  
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  Broody hens have the maternal instinct to raise chicks.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  See how she acts. Broody hens will stay on the nest even when the rest of the flock is fed. She will be protective of the nest, trying to peck you if you get close. When she does get off the nest, she may puff out her feathers and fight with the other hens; strutting about and making clucking noises.
  
  
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  Put your hen in a pen with a rooster to break up the behavior. The rooster will keep her busy trying to mate and she won't have time to brood.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Check her body. Broody hens lose the feathers of their chest. Her body language will give you clues as well. She will drop her wings and spread her tail as she struts around the other chickens. Her feathers may be standing on end. She may make growling noises as you try to collect eggs.
  
  

How to Break Up the Broody Hen

• 1). Separate her from the laying flock to break her up. Place her in a separate pen away from any hen that might lay eggs. A pen up off the ground is best. After a week test her by placing some fake eggs either plastic or wooden in the pen to see if she wants to set on them. Hens that set when the other hens in the home flock start laying eggs, will often set more than once when placed back with the poultry flock. The only way to be sure the broody hen will not start setting again is to keep her separate until she starts laying eggs.
  
  
• 2). Be especially watchful with the free range chicken flock. A broody hen among a free range chicken flock will usually hide a nest in some dark out of the way place, making it hard to find her. Once she is found there is the dilemma of what to do with the eggs that may be untold days old. Keep a watchful eye and ear out for any of the signs of broodiness mentioned above to catch the hen before she hides a nest to try hatching eggs.
  
  
• 3). Place some ice cubes in her nest. This will cool her bottom area and help her to understand that there are no eggs to set upon. Alternatively, you can place her in a pen with a wire bottom so the air circulates underneath her to keep her cool.