anything special to get a broody hen

[Dorothy1324]

i am new to this board and have had chickens for about a year 3 rirs 1 speckeled wheaton rooster and one wheaton bantam hen and in the garrage 10 aracana 5 weekers my question is is there anything special i might do to get my hens to be broody i would just love for my children and myself to see the process in the natural way not under a brooder. They have nesting boxes and are about a year old as i stated any info would be appreciated.

 

[joannamarie]

i have a pekin silkie so its a question of how to stop her going broody!! i have allways taking eggs out straight away but she still does it.
my other pekin silkie though is totally not interested though or my old english game.
but i have read that leaving a clutch of eggs there or fake ones help dont know if it will work

 

[birdlover]

Dorothy,
RIR's are not known for going broody but bantams are pretty broody so she might cooperate for you. However, it's a hormonal thing so there's really not a whole lot you can do. I always can tell when my hens are going to go broody because they start making this certain sound which is like the sound they make when they want their babies to follow them. 2 days after they start this noise, they start getting broody! If you REALLY want to do it the natural way, get yourself a silkie hen. As Joanna said, it's impossible to keep them FROM going broody!!

Ellen

 

[Hotwings]

Get a Buff Orpington-they go broody at the drop of the hat and are really good mothers. A hen usually go broody when the daylight increases. Bantams are good broodies too. Get some fertile eggs if they go broody. Watching a hen interact with her chicks is very interesting. When they do go broody sometimes nothing gets them off-they go into a somewhat zen like trance. Good luck.

 

[chickenboy]

Now i've heard that RIR's don't go broody but I have 5 of them and 2 have gone broody before.

 

[Whirlwind]

chickenboy wrote:

Now i've heard that RIR's don't go broody but I have 5 of them and 2 have gone broody before.

Ha

more chickens who forgot to read the book.

I am not sure there is anyone thing to make a chicken go broody. I would try leaving some eggs or fake eggs in the nest. Bantys can be very broody. Not much help here. But good luck.​

 

[claraserena]

We've had 17 hens in the past 2+years and just one has gane broody. She's a Buff Orphington--first time was February then 3 months later. The second time I encouraged her by leaving 4 golf balls in the one egg laying place. But I don't think that did it--it's just hormonal. About a week before she got especailly puffed out looking and would make this growling sound at other chickens. Then she started sitting. She's a great mom and yes it would be a terrific experience for children to see this natural mom-chicks relationship. It has been just awesome for me!

 

[Dorothy1324]

anyone know where i can get a full grown silke or buff in Maine i just brooded 10 babies and would not like to do it again untill next year but if i could get a grown one that would be great.