7 Ways to Break a Broody Chicken

If one of your chickens isn’t acting normal, like refusing to eat and opting to stay in the coop all day, then probably it want to hatch some eggs.

This behavior of hen going broody is just fine for those who’re planning for baby chicks. But, who are raising chickens only for egg consumption, a broody hen can be pain.

Some of them can be aggressive and stubborn refusing to go out and pecking or yelling at you.

Fortunately, there are different ways to break a broody hen.

To successfully break broodiness, you might have to try more than 2-3 ways.

What is Broody Chicken?

A broody chicken is a hen that insists on sitting in the nest to hatch eggs, even if they aren’t fertilized. Hormonal changes drive this behavior, and she may refuse to leave the nest, eat very little, and pluck feathers from her chest to warm the eggs.

Certain breeds like Silkies, Cochins, and Orpingtons are more prone to going broody. This phase can last for weeks, during which the hen stops laying and may sit on anything egg-shaped, believing she’s hatching chicks.

For egg-focused chicken keepers, a broody hen can be disruptive. She stops laying and may block the nesting box, making it necessary to break her broodiness.

Also Read: How to Keep Chickens Cool in Hot Weather?

How to Know If Chicken is Broody?

A broody hen will spend nearly all her time sitting in the nesting box, often refusing to come out even to eat or drink. Unlike other hens who lay and leave, a broody one stays put, sometimes trying to cover multiple eggs at once.

One of the clearest signs is puffed-up feathers and sudden aggression. A normally calm hen may hiss, growl, or peck if you get too close, acting as if she’s guarding developing chicks—even if there are no eggs at all.

You might also notice a bare patch on her chest. Broody hens often pluck out their own feathers to create better skin-to-egg contact, which helps with warmth during incubation.

Her voice may change too. Instead of her usual clucks and chatter, she may start making low, repetitive broody clucks, especially when disturbed or while sitting in the nest.

Broody hens eat and drink very little. They usually leave the nest once or twice a day, and when they do, they often produce one large, foul-smelling poop—a result of holding it in for hours.

Lastly, a broody hen will stop laying eggs. Her body shuts down egg production as it focuses entirely on hatching mode. If your best layer suddenly stops and shows these signs, she’s likely gone broody.

Why to Break a Broody Hen?

Breaking a broody hen is important if you’re not planning to hatch chicks. When a hen goes broody, she stops laying eggs, which can lower overall egg production in your flock.

She also occupies the nesting box for long periods, making it harder for other hens to lay comfortably. This can lead to stress and disruptions among the flock.

Additionally, broodiness can take a toll on the hen’s health. She may eat and drink less, lose weight, and become more vulnerable to parasites and disease due to prolonged sitting and poor hygiene. Breaking the cycle helps her return to her normal, healthy routine.

7 Ways to Break a Broody Chicken

When a hen goes broody and you’re not looking to hatch chicks, it can turn into a frustrating cycle. Her egg-laying stops, her attitude changes, and she becomes glued to the nest box, disrupting your flock’s routine.

Thankfully, there are several effective strategies to help snap her out of broody mode. Here are seven practical methods you can try—some gentle, others a bit more assertive.

1. Removal of the Broody Hen

Start by simply taking her out of the nesting box every time you catch her sitting. Do this gently but consistently throughout the day. Place her outside with the other hens to encourage normal behavior like scratching, dust bathing, and foraging.

This method works best in early stages of broodiness. The key is persistence—removing her multiple times a day sends a message that nest-sitting isn’t an option. Keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t sneak back.

If she continues returning immediately, pair this with other methods. Some hens are stubborn and will need a more disruptive change to reset their hormones.

Also Read: How to Deworm Chickens Naturally?

2. Closing Down the Nest Area of the Broody Hen

If removing her doesn’t work, try shutting down her access to the nesting area entirely. Block the nesting boxes during the day by placing a board or turning over a laundry basket. This removes her “broody zone” and forces her to engage in normal flock behavior.

Do this only when other hens aren’t laying or have alternative places to go. Some keepers temporarily remove all nesting boxes if broodiness becomes widespread.

If you can’t block access, try removing the hen and placing her in a different area entirely for a few days.

3. Frozen Water Bottle and Cold Dips

The warmth under a broody hen keeps her in the nesting mood. To disrupt this, place a frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel under her belly when she’s nesting. This cools her body temperature and makes sitting less comfortable.

Some keepers also use brief “cool baths”—placing the hen in shallow, cold (not icy) water for a few minutes. This method should be used cautiously and only in warm weather to prevent stress or chills.

Both approaches help lower the elevated body temperature that fuels broodiness, but they usually work best when combined with nest access removal.

4. Remove All Nesting Material

Another way to make the nest uninviting is to strip it of all bedding. Remove straw, shavings, or anything soft, and leave only the bare surface. Without cozy nesting material, the box becomes much less appealing.

Check often, though—determined hens might sit on bare wood if they’re really set on hatching. Combine this with removal or cooling methods for better results.

This is especially helpful for hens who aren’t overly aggressive and haven’t fully committed to broodiness yet.

5. Stop Access to the Coop for the Broody Hen

Temporarily denying her access to the coop during the day can be very effective. Keep her in a chicken-safe outdoor run or fenced area with food and water. This prevents her from returning to the nesting box over and over.

After a few days of “coop ban,” many hens will give up. Just be sure she has shade, shelter, and company so the separation doesn’t cause stress or loneliness.

6. Send Her to Broody Hen Jail

This method is more direct. Place the broody hen in a wire-bottomed crate or cage raised off the ground. The lack of nesting material and better airflow underneath helps cool her underside and break the broody cycle.

Leave her in the crate for 2–4 days with food and water but no bedding. Most hens snap out of it after a few days of “jail time.” Return her to the flock and monitor her—if she goes straight back to the nest, repeat the process.

7. Give Her Fertile Eggs

If you don’t mind raising chicks, lean into her broodiness and give her fertilized eggs to hatch. Broody hens are great natural incubators and mothers, and it’s a productive use of her instinct.

Letting her go through the process may satisfy her hormones and stop future episodes of broodiness—at least for a while. Just make sure she’s healthy and committed before giving her eggs to hatch.

Check this: Why Have My Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs in Summer?

Conclusion

Breaking a broody hen requires patience and a combination of strategies to gently discourage her from nesting.

By consistently disrupting her behavior, cooling her body, and making the nest less inviting, you can help her return to normal egg-laying.

Whether using simple removal, restricting nest access, or more hands-on methods like broody jail, the key is to stay consistent until she loses the urge to brood. With time and care, your hen will be back to her regular, healthy routine.