Can You Force a Hen to Be Broody?

[YankeeMinstrel]

This spring, my mother wants to buy some chicks and convince a hen to adopt them. The problem is, though we have a hen with a long and consistent history of broodiness, she isn't broody just yet. Though I have always thought that a hen will only go broody on her own accord, my mother insists that we could convince her to go broody and sit on fake eggs by confining her in a small hutch, so that we can pretend her eggs 'hatched'. Is it possible to force a hen into broodiness by confinement with a clutch, or do we have to wait until she decides herself?

 

[sunflour]

Broodiness is a hormonal happening and IMO you cannot force that to happen.

Do be careful placing babies with any hen, they can kill them. I don't know if even a broody hen will accept those she does not hatch.

 

[newwestchick]

http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/04/five-ways-to-encourage-hen-to-go-broody.html?m=1

Best wishes!