Things You'll Need
- Ice cubes
- Pen
- Wire cage
- Pail or bucket
- Cool water
Instructions
Remove the hen from the nest several times a day. Keeping the hen from getting comfortable on the nest is key to breaking broodiness.
Put a "clutch" of ice cubes under the hen. Replacing eggs with ice cubes will force the chicken off the nest.
Place the hen in a pen where she can't see her old nest. Keeping her away from her nest for about four days may break the broodiness. Provide food and water at all times.
Put the hen in a raised wire cage for a few days. Provide food and water, but no bedding material. The cool air rising into the cage and no comfortable place to nest will stop the brooding behavior.
Dunk the chicken into a pail of cool water. The hen's body temperature will rise when brooding and the cool water will bring it down and stop the behavior.