Can I trick a hen into going broody?

[alhanse77]

I have spring fever and want some new chickies! Rather than buying chicks, I would love to have the experience of having a hen hatch some for me! I found some delightful plaster eggs at a craft store and was wondering placing them together in a nest box might "trick" a hen into thinking there was a clutch that needed some TLC. I would then swap them out with fertile eggs at night. I am not holding my breath, but do you think this might work?

 

[schellie69]

NO since I have golf balls in the nest a hen will go broody only if she wants to nothing you can do, except get a breed known to go broody like a silky or chrocin (sp) I have one EE bantam out of 14 hatchery hens that ever went broody.

 

[vnploveschickens]

I have 2 buff orpingtons that went broody twice last year. So far, no signs yet! But it just the beginning of April, isn't it?