Can you MAKE a hen go BROODY?

[Mrs. K]

The trick to getting a broody hen to take chicks, is cold chicks. It is not just a one way relationship, the chicks have to do their part too. Make sure all your chicks have had a drink of water. Then set them outside for 10 or 15 minutes, in the evening. They should be huddled tight together and peeping madly. When it is dark, wearing gloves and a thick sweatshirt, push the babies under her. Wait a few moments. The peeping should silence, they have found the warm spot, and are tired. The broody will start talking to them.

Then leave them alone. Let them figure it out. A lot of times, trying to be of help, people interfere with the bonding.

It is fun!

 

[Crazychickengirl2]

And yes I know this is an extremely old thread buttt what if the place your hen lay is in a nesting box that is a few feet off the ground? Will the baby’s be fine jumping out?

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes they will be fine. They are mostly fluff. I have read of a hen getting them out of a 12 foot hay loft. 2-3 feet is not a problem.

 

[RcoM]

There was a short article in an issue of Backyard Poultry where this 12 year old boy shared his method and he got it from his grandfather. Basically what he does is, he covered a rabbit cage with tar paper to make it dark. Provide some kind of box to hold the nesting material and put the hen in the nest box in the cage. Each morning and evening he would take her out to eat and drink for about 20 minutes each time. He said it took about 4-5 days for the hen to go broody and stay on the nest without the tar paper. But, it was still best to provide a dark place, so he only took the tar paper off the front of the cage. This is the best I remember how the article read and I didn't save that issue. Passed it on to a friend, I think. HTH

Thanks! From my experience, if it's the right breed and she has any tendency at all, you can TOTALLY trick them into going broody.