Inducing broodiness

[moodlymoo]

Is there a way? I would like to order some eggs next year and wanted to have one of my hens brood them. Is there a way to do this if none of my hens are broody?

 

[TigerLilly]

I don't believe there is a way to induce broodiness, unfortunately!

 

[SpunkyChicken]

Your best bet would be to raise a breed that is known for going broody. My cochins do it ALL the time... of course it sucks because I don't need them to incubate eggs for me, and they're not laying at all during that time!

 

[DAFox]

Some breeds are noted for going broody. What breeds do you have?

Last year, my old chicken tractor had a community nest. I had 7 broody hens for the year The chickens moved into a regular shed style coop last fall. I used rubbermaid totes on the floor for nest boxes. I have been having non-stop broodies since late winter. Quite a few of them have been broody 3-4 times. I currently have 3 broodies sitting on golf balls -- a Jersey Giant who is on her 4th time this year, a Barred Holland for her 1st for the year -- but was broody last year, and an Amerucauna for her 1st time ever. A leghorn x Austalorp is still with her chicks that she brooded. The same JG as above and a leghorn x EE were the other incubating hens for that batch. I don't have enough room to let every broody raise chicks.

It helps to have breeds that will go broody easily. A good nesting set up is somewhat important and I find that leaving a large number of eggs in the nest encourages hens to become broody.

Dale-Ann

 

[pgpoultry]

Leaving eggs in the egg boxes, whether real or fake may encourage them, but , as broodiness relates to a hormonal change, it cannot be guaranteed.

I keep Brahmas and they are also a very broody lot. I have broodies for about 8 months of the year.