Can you MAKE a hen go BROODY?

[cheepcheep riri]

I've been reading y'all's thread because I want some chicks. Because dogs came through and killed 3 chickens and then 1 more a week later. Well I have a rabbit hutch and a tarp and I decided to try the dark enclosed space with eggs idea. Well I think it is working!! There's nowhere for her to roost and so the most comfortable place for her to sleep at was in her nest. So she slept there and I think it's clicking! She went broody once before But only allowed her one egg since we had 3 others... Isn't that funny how they love to get broody when you don't really want chicks, but when you do want chicks they have no intention of sitting down on eggs for 21 days.

 

[cheepcheep riri]

One more question....do partridge brahmas go broody often?

 

[BillyC]

I have recently have had to sperate one of my hens because my rooster did a bit of damage to the back of her neck and I did not want her to get killed or infected. I built a cage which I would also use as a brooder in the spring. She started making a great recovery, so I was curious and took some fertilized eggs that I collected from my coop that day and I put them in the nest that she made in her cage. And to my surprise she took right to the eggs and seems to be going broody, she sits on them a good bit of the day. I hope that this works and she hatches some chicks!

 

[Ks1063]

I've successfully put chicks up to a week old under a hen that was sitting on a nest. I've also put chicks under a hen that already had chicks. The trick seems to be to do it at night. Stick them under her and let her sit on them all night long. It's worked for me! Good luck!

 

[larcie]

I had a sumatra go broody for a few days, she's been real stubborn in the past and it took a lot of effort to brake it so this time I gave up. I moved her into a hutch on her own and put a few of her eggs plus a few duck eggs and now she's just not interested. I've made it nice and dark in there in hope she start brooding again within the next few days, fingers crossed.

 

[SHemphill]

I had a sit down talk with my bird and she understood the importance of it. LoL actually I found that my bird would only sit for the night hours then want to play in the mornings so I would let her play for an hour or so then lead her back to the nest uncover the eggs and she would go back to sitting for the rest of the day. Let me know if this works for you.

 

[HarryMurdoch101]

Hi. I don't think you can make a hen go broody, but I have just got a rooster and he is allready mating! he is good news

 

[ChickenEnthusiast]

yea i will wait and it is spring

 

[Animalfreak382]

Yes! lol

 

[shortgrass]

I couldnt find a closer match to the question i havr so i will revive this one put of curiosity....WHAT MAKES A CHICKEN GO BROODY? I know horomones, hours of sunlight etc etc...but how does she know to stop laying fresh eggs and just set? Its probabky a stupid question lol...i was just curious