Can I make my hens broody?

[backyardfarmer2]

Hello, is there a way to make my 2 silkie hens broody? I have a duck egg on the way and I'd prefer one of them hatch it out as opposed to incubating on my own. How do I get them to feel up to the task??

 

[Judy]

It's unlikely. It is a hormone change and happens when their body tells it to.

 

[nchls school]

Hello, is there a way to make my 2 silkie hens broody? I have a duck egg on the way and I'd prefer one of them hatch it out as opposed to incubating on my own. How do I get them to feel up to the task??

Most of the time silkies go broody whether its desired or not, but just when you want a broody they have other ideas. I assume they are laying eggs? Each day replace a fresh egg with a dummy egg; anything whitish and of a similar size to the eggs will work-golf balls, etc. I use white plastic easter eggs from Walmart. Letting the nest gradually fill with eggs seems to work well-it's worked every time for me. It takes about 7 to 14 days and they will go broody-sometimes in less time.

 

[backyardfarmer2]

It's unlikely.  It is a hormone change and happens when their body tells it to.

Thank you!

 

[nchls school]

Most of the time silkies go broody whether its desired or not, but just when you want a broody they have other ideas. I assume they are laying eggs? Each day replace a fresh egg with a dummy egg; anything whitish and of a similar size to the eggs will work-golf balls, etc. I use white plastic easter eggs from Walmart. Letting the nest gradually fill with eggs seems to work well-it's worked every time for me. It takes about 7 to 14 days and they will go broody-sometimes in less time.

The presence of eggs will speed up that hormone change. Good luck.

 

[backyardfarmer2]

1 of my hens went broody after I took the advice on replacing fresh eggs with golf balls, it took exactly a week which was awesome! Thank you for the help!!

 

[nchls school]

1 of my hens went broody after I took the advice on replacing fresh eggs with golf balls, it took exactly a week which was awesome! Thank you for the help!!

That is great. I'm glad to hear the idea worked for you. Good luck with the duck egg.

 

[pinkmartin73]

Thank you all for this thread. Very interesting. I learned something new today!

 

[nchls school]

Thank you all for this thread. Very interesting. I learned something new today!

This method will not work with nonbroody breeds. The broody instinct has been bred out of them.

 

[pinkmartin73]

I have buff orpingtons and easter eggers in my flock. I've read that both breeds have broody tendancies. Is that true?