Can you force a chicken into broodiness?

[Allie Grace Sanders]

I have two BO's in my flock, who are 1 year old. I have ten or eleven plastic easter eggs that are weighted in 1 nest box. I heard that you can put a hen in a nest with eggs and cover her with a bucket, while I was reading a book. Has anyone here tried this? If so, did it work? I just need to add to my flock quickly, the numbers are dwindling.

 

[centrarchid]

I met an Aussie lady whose father would give their hen (who was prone to broodiness) a few drops of rum, spin her around, and poop her into the nest box. He’d stick some baby chicks under her in the night and presto! Instant family. She’d accept them and raise them as her own.

Any bridges or magic beans for sell?

 

[adstowe]

The OP is not looking for a science experiment to judge whether or not she can influence broodiness. She just wants more birds quickly. If she had a currently broody hen, then hatching would be a viable option, but she doesn't. Aside from buying adult birds (which is a whole discussion on it's own) her best bet is to get some chicks.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You can encourage broodiness by leaving artificial eggs in the nest box but you cannot force a hen into broodiness.

 

[centrarchid]

First look at following thread to see how it sets up naturally. The broody rooster would not incubate eggs, rather his investment is better suited for post hatch care. Breed may be important, those I use are American Game. @Perris the game roosters still in UK might do similar with little trouble.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster.882368/

My forcing efforts are not intentional, rather the rooster is used to protect broods and prevent siblicide. Usually the chicks are at least 2 weeks post-hatch. A fully mature rooster is put in a pen with one to as many as 20 chicks. I can tell in a glance if he is up to the task. Rooster and chicks will begin imprinting on each other almost immediately. If chicks too scared, then I put rooster in a smaller pen they can get in and out of. Then add quality eats to rooster's pen so he can tid bit call them in and let them eat. Will take a couple days but association with get strong enough chicks will roost under him and he will allow it and sometimes even call them up.

 

[adstowe]

Trying to obtain valid information from a fictional book is not likely to go well. You say your numbers are dwindling. Why are they dwindling? Old age? Predators? If it's caused by something other than old age, then this needs to be addressed first. As far as making a hen go broody? Good luck. Your best bet is to get a heat source and a suitable brooding container and buy some chicks. You can wish/hope/try for a broody hen and still end up never having one.

 

[microchick]

Right now I'm having a hard time keeping mine from GOING broody.

But....I have had success stimulating broodiness by buying ceramic eggs and at night leaving two eggs in a nesting box then each day adding another egg. Usually by the time I have 6 eggs in a box somebody will just have to set on them. Once I get a nibble I leave the hen alone for three days to make sure she is serious about it. If she isn't, I just leave the eggs. Sometimes they will come back to the nest and sometimes they won't

Putting a bucket over the hen sounds like a good way to get either an injured hen as she struggles to escape or a dead hen. One of the two.

My best advice is that it's chick time in every farm supply store in America it seems. Invest in chicks or if you want to hatch, invest in an incubator and hatch your own. That way you do not have to depend on the fickleness of broody hens.

 

[WunnySharbit]

My chix knew that the plastic eggs were fake and refused to go near them, let alone sit on them. I would think you'd be better off letting them tell you where they want to lay and set.

Also: I have had many, many chix over the years and have only had a handful go broody. Yours may not want to raise kids....

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Trying to obtain valid information from a fictional book is not likely to go well. You say your numbers are dwindling. Why are they dwindling? Old age? Predators? If it's caused by something other than old age, then this needs to be addressed first. As far as making a hen go broody? Good luck. Your best bet is to get a heat source and a suitable brooding container and buy some chicks. You can wish/hope/try for a broody hen and still end up never having one.

The numbers were dwindling because of a fox. The problem is gone though.

 

[Shadrach]

I wish you were closer - I'd offer to take a few of those broodies off your hands. I don't think I'll get any this year. I have a whole new flock, though, so maybe....

They're driving me mad!
I just finish discouraging one and then another one starts up.
I've got one pullet here who has gone broody three times in six weeks!