Anything I can do to encourage brooding?

[Ridgerunner]

Personally I'd get an incubator. That way you have control over it. But I do love my broody hens.

I've tried adding one fake egg (golf ball) a day to build up the numbers a few times. I've tried marking real eggs and letting them build up one at a time a couple of times. I also don't like leaving eggs in the coop overnight but I tried. In addition to the other reasons given it can attract snakes where I am.

Once I got a broody hen but that was in a different nest, I don't think that counts. That method has been very unreliable for me. I've bred my hens so practically all of them go broody, just not early in the year when I need some to hatch to keep chicken in my freezer. You can try being patient but I don't, I use my incubator when I need chicks. Later in the summer my broodies raise chicks as I will have a need for them.

 

[IamRainey]

I hear ya about an incubator. And I may go that way one day. But what I really want are 1) chicks and 2) a momma hen who will protect them as they integrate into the flock. Plus, how can you not want to watch that natural cycle play out?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Throw some straw in a milk crate and fill it up with eggs. Then post yourself on top of it with arms folded like a hens wings and cluck often. I find hens love to go broody when another broody is in sight.
Don't worry about feeling silly you'll only have to do it for a day or two usually.

 

[IamRainey]

 

[HappyClucker7]

Putting up a curtain would certainly help. I had a curtain over my nesting boxes once, and when I went on vacation, the chicken sitter could only come every other day. When I got back home, one of my chickens was broody. You can try putting a few golf balls in the nest. Chickens honestly don't know the difference. If you add a curtain, it will make the nesting box nice and dark and secluded. Good luck!