Dunking Chickens

[EcclesCake]

Has anyone found dunking broody chickens in cold water to actually work?

[EcclesCake]

Where are all the chicken keepers hiding?

[Islay]

Dad used to give broody chickens china eggs to sit on!!

But saying that you would lose your drive if your fantoosh was dunked in water!!

[EcclesCake]

China eggs encourage rather than discourage and I am definitely wanting to discourage the little madam!

I've dunked in the past but am not at all convinced it is effective. I do all the usual things to make them uncomfortable in the hope they'll get over themselves but to little effect.

Hens will be hens it seems....

[Clanad]

We dunk ours in boiling water for an extended time after removing all feathers and insides, of course… Works every time… especially if done on Sunday!

[Islay]

Just spoke to dad and he directed me here to step 3! He said that he has had more success with this then dunking them

https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/how-can-i-stop-a-hen-from-being-broody/

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Islay. I've tried isolation before but not with this little minx and not quite as recommended in the link, I'll give it a go.

[woofgang]

well but doesn’t it all seem a bit mean?

[EcclesCake]

Mean?

I respect your views on dog and tortoise care, I'm not so familiar with your expertise on chicken care.

[woofgang]

Sorry I don’t know....is there a chicken welfare reason for stopping a hen going broody?

[wildwood]

When a hen goes broody, hormones cause the arteries in her abdominal area to expand and so effectively creating a 'brood patch' which is warmer than the rest of her body. Dunking her in cold water seems extremely cruel and will probably make her sick. It is the hormones that have to be treated, so let her sit on some (fake) eggs and she will leave them after 25 days or so, when she realises that the eggs are not hatching.

Would it be so terrible if she sat on fertile eggs and had some chicks. Isn't this the main reason for having chooks, and fresh eggs are a bonus?

[EcclesCake]

It would be an immaculate conception as we don't have a roo!

I prefer to break the bloodiness, if I can, as starving and depriving themselves of water does them no good and it upsets the hierarchy of the group.

[EcclesCake]

^^^ that should of course read broodiness.

[maggiebee]

Not knowing very much about chickens I can only ask: Would you like to be dunked in cold water when you are broody?

[ummmm]

You can't compare animals with humans!

[EcclesCake]

Maggie, would you want stand by and watch one of your pets starve themselves and go without water due to raging hormones, knowing that after going broody they will moult and lose condition further?

[woofgang]

here’s a kinder suggestion....
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch.html

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Woof, as I said to Islay I have tried the isolation and discomfort route before. Not that I found that technique any more effective than dunking.

I just hate seeing them nursing a clutch of eggs (I check frequently for newly laid eggs and remove them straight away) and being so grumpy and losing condition.

[viv41]

Awww poor things, I never knew they got like that.

[ladybirder]

Catching them early seems to be the trick but I have no idea how easy that is.

[Islay]

Hey Eccless any luck with the broodiness?