Can you make your Hens Broody??

[pixie74943]

Cause I'm thinking I want to buy and hatch a couple of eggs, no enough to invest in an incubator and a brooder. And I worry about not being able to watch them enogh, so whats better than a Mama Hen right?

Only problem is, How long do hens stay broody once they start? And can i convince her to be broody if I buy eggs??

 

[Mahonri]

It's the luck of the draw.

I've had two broody hens.

One has gone broody twice and she is just 14 months old.

I've broken both of them recently cuz I want them laying.

Breed helps.... Partridge Rocks go broody!... and one of my designer hens (mutt) CA white X Porcelain D'Uccle.... If I KNEW her eggs were fertile I'd let her set on them... but alas, my blue roo is not getting the job done yet. He'll be a year old in September.... and has just started "trying" to crow.

 

[ClairedeLune]

I wish I had a broody! I'm getting a trio of Seramas in a few weeks though, wish me luck that one will go broody and I will have lil' Seramas chirping around... sorry to go off topic but Mahonri is that blue roo in your avatar the one you posted about? Even if he's not, he's a beauty! What breed is he?

 

[pixie74943]

Extra thought, how long can you hang on to Fertile eggs before they need to be incubated??

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Well I did a broody count today and Im up to NINE!!

I want my laying flock back.... but everyone wants to be mommies.

You can encourage her to become broody but you cant make her become broody...

 

[pixie74943]

Thats what I wanted to know. What can I do to encourage her?

Big pretty nest with lots of eggs? Would fake eggs convince her??

 

[SeramaLife]

Don't collect eggs........As of today, out of 70 hens from ages 1-9, 21 are sitting.