Checking Broodiness/Motherly Instincts

[Delaneygraces]

Hello! Is there any way to know if your hen has that deep set of Motherly instincts, without putting chicks In danger of a pecking? I know fake eggs can help them go broody, but is there a way to know if she’ll take in chicks, or be a good mother without actually going through the whole progress? I’m asking mostly about a Cochin bantam, which the breed in general is a good broody/mother. Thank you!

 

[nchls school]

Hello! Is there any way to know if your hen has that deep set of Motherly instincts, without putting chicks In danger of a pecking? I know fake eggs can help them go broody, but is there a way to know if she’ll take in chicks, or be a good mother without actually going through the whole progress? I’m asking mostly about a Cochin bantam, which the breed in general is a good broody/mother. Thank you!

There is no way to know until a hen actually hatches chicks. It is not common for broody hens to not be good mothers.

 

[staceyj]

And fake eggs won’t “make” a hen be broody. It’s a hormonal process.
Some breeds are more prone to broodiness however....

 

[Abriana]

If a hen is broody, she will most likely be a good mother. They have that maternal instinct if they are broody. A first time broody might be a bit hesitant but usually she figures things out, or very occasionally she abandons the nest. But usually she is fine! I'd let her try. It's a great experience!

 

[sourland]

In my experience the broody hen that is not a good mother is the exception. If you are talking about fostering chicks to a broody hen, the younger the chicks and the longer the hen has been setting the greater the chance of success.

 

[nchls school]

And fake eggs won’t “make” a hen be broody. It’s a hormonal process.
Some breeds are more prone to broodiness however....

But replacing eggs as they are laid with dummy eggs will hasten the broody instinct. I do this in the winter and it works well. My serama will not set an empty nest.

 

[aart]

But replacing eggs as they are laid with dummy eggs will might hasten the broody instinct.

Might work with a bird that has been broody in the past...don't think it's real common tho.
If it works for you that's great but probably doesn't apply to any bird....don't want to give false hope.

 

[nchls school]

But replacing eggs as they are laid with dummy eggs will hasten the broody instinct. I do this in the winter and it works well. My serama will not set an empty nest.

I should have also added that this only works with broody type breeds; some breeds will not brood-they do no have the broody instinct so no matter what is done they will not go broody. My polish hens are an example.

 

[chickens really]

It's a roll of the Dice with first time Hens expected to raise Chicks. What works for me is to not interfere the first few days as hatching occurs and to give her privacy. She will either be great or kill them. Generally they know what to do.