Broody

Having a broody hen when unneeded first thing in the morning is exactly what you do not want. A broody hen is when she decides/thinks her eggs are going to hatch in the next 21 days. You diagnose this by looking at the hens tail if it is broody the tail will take a broadened triangular shape. Also the hen will refuse to move from her desired nesting box apart from once a day for some food and water. She will also stop laying temporarily. After a prolonged period she may become underweight, so if you do want a broody hen give her plenty of supplements like Aloe Vera to keep her in good condition. However, if you do not want or need a broody hen you have to go through a process of "breaking it" if you do want to keep her broody you will have to move her to a specialised broody coop to fulfil her needs.

First of all remove any eggs the hen is sat on. The first night I tried putting an ice pack underneath Rose (my broody hen) to discourage her, this can be challenge because they can become defensive wing slapping and all.Silkies are known to be the most defensive and hardest to break. Unfortunately, this didn't work. Next I simply locked her out the house in to the integral run all day and all night till all the symptoms were gone for me it was a couple of days. This can be unpleasant for the hen and owner but sometimes it just has to be done. The longer you leave a hen broody the longer she won't lay eggs.