6 years and no broody girls...ever

[phyllmud]

Hi! I have been raising chickens for over 6 years now. I have never had a broody girl. I have 14 hens and 1 spunky Roo and would like to have a couple of babies that I don’t want to pay for. Is there a way to help a hen along?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It mostly depends on the breeds one owns. What breed hens do you have?
There are lots of breeds that will never go broody.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

What breeds do you have? Some are more inclined to go broody.
You could pick up a few bantams (cochins or Brahmas) or silkies. They lay well when not broody and are excellent at hatching eggs.

Or every spring I see ads with free broodys. Some people can't stand them and purge them as soon as they pop up.

 

[phyllmud]

New Hampshire Reds(2), Barred Rock (1), Silver Laced Wyandot(3), Easter Egger (1), Black Austrolorp (5), and 2 that I can’t remember the breed.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

To answer your actual question I've read letting eggs accumulate may entice a hen to go broody. Something about the pressure of the eggs under her releasing a hormone or something like that.

 

[phyllmud]

Thank you!

To answer your actual question I've read letting eggs accumulate may entice a hen to go broody. Something about the pressure of the eggs under her releasing a hormone or something like that.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

New Hampshire Reds(2), Barred Rock (1), Silver Laced Wyandot(3), Easter Egger (1), Black Austrolorp (5), and 2 that I can’t remember the breed.

I've had all those breeds except New Hampshires. An EE is the only one of them that ever went broody. New Hampshires are supposed to be variable in their propensity to go broody.
Perhaps get a half dozen or a dozen wooden or ceramic eggs to leave in the nest so you can continue to collect eggs. The nesting material needs to be very comfortable. Broody hens don't like plastic nest pads. Excelsior, shavings or dried grass have worked for me. The nest should be fairly dark too.

 

[phyllmud]

I've had all those breeds except New Hampshires. Only my EE ever went broody. New Hampshires are supposed to be variable in their propensity to go broody.
Perhaps get a half dozen or a dozen wooden or ceramic eggs to leave in the nest so you can continue to collect eggs. The nesting material needs to be very comfortable. Broody hens don't like plastic nest pads. Excelsior, shavings or dried grass have worked for me. The nest should be fairly dark too.

Thank you.

 

[pennyJo1960]

If you have hatchery birds broody is bred out of them so very unusual
I have birds from breeders none have gone broody till I got a couple lavender ameracauna took her to auction. I have 4 silky from friend here they are my broody
leave two fake eggs they are broody next day good luck

 

[phyllmud]

If you have hatchery birds broody is bred out of them so very unusual
I have birds from breeders none have gone broody till I got a couple lavender ameracauna took her to auction. I have 4 silky from friend here they are my broody
leave two fake eggs they are broody next day good luck