Can you force a hen to sit or do some hens just not sit?

[royturkcross]

I have a hen that was trying to steal everyone else's nest that they were laying and even trying to take others poults. Well I posted on here and was told to seperate her until I had enough eggs for her. It has been well over a week now that I gave her her eggs and let her back in. The hens and her argued a little but seemed more like a dominance thing this time (nothing like before). Well she has 22 eggs in her nest now and she still won't sit. I have been trying to be patient but 22 eggs today!!

I am wondering if I can force her to lay somehow. I have no incubater to hatch them out myself. All the incubators I have found are just to expensive. Do I need to make a small pen just for her by herself. I know that turkey's don't like to be alone but I am out of ideas!! So any ideas of what to do would greatly be appreciated.

Also I do know that the eggs are fertile!! All my hens were covered by my 3 toms. The toms have been removed from the pen. One of my hens has hatched out 11 poults and my other hen has hatched out more than 5 (she won't let me see yet!!) So, I know their fertile.

Help please!!

 

[ColbyNTX]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. I would put her and the eggs in a pen by themselves and see what happens.

 

[Shad]

When was the last time she was with a tom? When was the last time she laid? Sounds like you debroodied her. Most of the time I do this intentionally to keep them laying, sounds like you did it just in time to catch her in the latest phase after she quit laying, she is stuck there - it shouldn't take long for her to turn around - put her back with the toms, feed her very well - she will have to lay again.

It can be a difficult thing to keep them from getting broody, you can research this...

To rush the broody thing, make her very comfortable and secure, perhaps bored.

 

[royturkcross]

She was in with the toms about 2 weeks maybe 3 weeks ago. She was wanting a tom (laying for me when I would walk in the pen) and so I put her in with the boys for about 4 days. I returned her to the hen pen and she started laying immediately. She is still laying everyday but does skip a day here and there. She did lay an egg yesterday. I will make a seperate pen for her and her eggs today. We'll see if that helps. Thanks for the replies I really appreciate it.

 

[Thomasturkey]

I think your mistake is you gave her eggs. Let her build her own nest in her time. Most hens will sit on rocks if the time is right.

 

[royturkcross]

She was in with the toms about 2 weeks maybe 3 weeks ago. She was wanting a tom (laying for me when I would walk in the pen) and so I put her in with the boys for about 4 days. I returned her to the hen pen and she started laying immediately. She is still laying everyday but does skip a day here and there. She did lay an egg yesterday. I will make a seperate pen for her and her eggs today. We'll see if that helps. Thanks for the replies I really appreciate it.