Can you entice a hen to go broody?

[dianneS]

I was wondering if it is possible to persuade a hen to go broody when you want her to? I know if I don't collect eggs daily and some start to pile up in a nest box, that some times I'll get a hen that decides to set on them.

I was thinking of trying to put a particularly broody hen into a brooder pen with a nest of fake eggs and see what happens? I have a cochin that I thought it might work on.

Is it possible to manipulate them into broodiness?

 

[Chicken Chat]

I am not sure it would be that easy, they usually go broody when you don't want them to. It is worth a try, especially if your hen has been a good broody in the past.
Goodluck!

 

[Sock Puppet]

someone told me that what he does is leave the eggs in the nest that she lays and after about 7 eggs they then set on them and go broody.

Im going to try it right now with my bantam cochin. she has 1 egg so far. so about 6 more to go

And they are fertile, so we will see. I still have the roo in there with her.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

I've heard that you have to put her on eggs in a small enough box that she can't get out unless you let her out.

Anyway, I've got a surplus of broodies right now, if anybody needs a spare.

Those bantams will go broody a lot, especially your bantam cochin. I wouldn't get too worried. She'll go broody sometime, I almost guarantee it. I would not leave good eggs in the nest box though until you are sure. Just put in some plastic ones or golf balls. Then when you are sure, give her the eggs you want. They don't necessarily have to be from her. They can be anybody's eggs. She doesn't care.