Can I make a hen go broody?

[BobStuart]

I don’t think you can do anything about it. Just leave the eggs on the nest for a few days and see what happens

And some breeds don’t go broody much

 

[Red Mangrove]

I've seen a bunch of videos from Pakistan where the people casually force hens to sit on eggs in a small box for several days. It looks like the hen will become broody under such circumstances

Personally I wouldn't force a hen to sit in such a manner. There's lots of constantly broody breeds out there that can make excellent mothers without being forced

 

[fluffycrow]

I've seen a bunch of videos from Pakistan where the people casually force hens to sit on eggs in a small box for several days. It looks like the hen will become broody under such circumstances

Personally I wouldn't force a hen to sit in such a manner. There's lots of constantly broody breeds out there that can make excellent mothers without being forced

I've seen those videos too. Two key components however. They are using extremely broody breeds and mixes. If the bird has a clutch of eggs underneath her for such an extended period of time, and she's also laying, she could go broody. Simply putting a bird that does not have the predisposition in a box like that will not work. And even if that wasn't the case, no one needs baby chicks so badly they need to abuse an animal. What you said is very correct

 

[Red Mangrove]

I've seen those videos too. Two key components however. They are using extremely broody breeds and mixes. If the bird has a clutch of eggs underneath her for such an extended period of time, and she's also laying, she could go broody. Simply putting a bird that does not have the predisposition in a box like that will not work. And even if that wasn't the case, no one needs baby chicks so badly they need to abuse an animal. What you said is very correct

All correct and true. The hens in the videos I've seen are all Asil, extremely broody birds by nature

 

[Tonyroo]

Brooding takes a toll on her health. Don't ever really want a broody hen in winter.

 

[nuthatched]

Brooding is a matter of hormones, there's nothing you you can do to "bring it on". You can provide clean, secure, nest boxes so they may think about it bit there's nothing you can do other than that.
Ita not advisable to brood in winter, wait until it's warmer.

 

[casportpony]

Closed for staff review.

 

[casportpony]

This thread has been reopened after being cleaned up. If you cannot contribute constructively, please refrain from commenting.

 

[Joe Wooten]

You can encourage hens to go broody, but you can never force them to. Providing safe, clean and comfortable nesting boxes encourages hens to lay in them, and if you let the hen lay a clutch or if you put fake eggs in the one nesting box, it may encourage the hen to become broody when she sees the opportunity to incubate. Breed matters too, because some breeds tend toward broodiness and some almost never brood.

I had a brown Leghorn go broody in late September. I think it was to stop teh other girls from picking on her, since she's the lowest on the pecking order. None of my girls' eggs are fertile since I do not have a rooster. If it had been a couple of months earlier, I would have traded eggs with a neighbor who doe have a rooster, but that was just way too late in the year.