Encouraging Broodiness

[ChickenGirl555]

I want to use a broody to hatch chicks in about 3 weeks, and last late summer I had accidentally let eggs build up while I was busy one week, and then I came to find about a dozen eggs and a broody buff orp! Sadly, I didn't want to hatch chicks then, so I just broke her and removed the eggs. But now I need her to be broody again, but she I am worried she won't be broody at the right time! Last spring I didn't mind that she was broody since the rest of the flock produced plenty of eggs to satisfy my family, and I let her be a funny, grumpy broody for almost two months! But then I showed her at a fair and she had to be broken. She would have gone longer, and she never kept the same eggs for more than two days (sometimes she'd hide them!). So I have hope in her being a good broody and can't wait for her to hatch me some chicks for March! I know I want to set the eggs on either March 2nd or March 3rd, and I'd want her to be broody for just a couple days before to make sure she is committed. I will just be using barnyard mix eggs (for fun and to see what I get) so I will have fertilized eggs anytime, as long as they're being layed.

I plan on using fake eggs made out of plaster I molded with plastic Easter eggs to encourage her broodiness, because I've read some people have had success with that. Does anybody else have some method to encourage her broodiness or to help in any way with the hatch? Do you think my plan will work to get her broody?

 

[sdm111]

It's a timing thing. Let her lay her own eggs and she'll go broody when she's ready. Then switch her eggs. She's not gonna go till she's ready imo. About 3 weeks from now she should be or about to be broody on her own then just switch the eggs. She can sit on her own a week or two if needed they won't rot that fast

 

[mixedbreeds]

There isn’t much you can do the fake eggs I do think help if it’s around time for them to go broody. I know I have been gone a few times where there were two days worth of eggs in the nests when I got home and more times than not I had a broody or two sitting on the eggs. I think if it’s the right time of the year the see all those eggs and it sets them off.

 

[staceyj]

Since broodiness is hormonal, I thought it wasn’t something that could be artificially triggered? I thought it’s more something you had to just wait for.

 

[RollTideChicken]

Yea it's really up to her but if she's prone to being broody, she will sit again. I have a BO that I can't break, she'll sit no matter what...but oh well. Best of luck to you!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I'm hoping to encourage a broody myself and give her day old chicks. My plan is pretty much the same as yours. Leave some fake eggs around in the hope she decides they need to be incubated.
I must say my broody is the "Broody Queen." When she puts her mind to it she is one seriously determined girl. I think she'd brood a bump on a log and somehow make a chick out of it.
I figure trying won't hurt. I am prepared if she doesn't take the bait. In your case you would have to decide if you want to have an incubator ready should she quit early or let the eggs go and try again later.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I'm my experience there is nothing you can do to make a hen go broody. They sit when their hormones tell them to. No amount of fake eggs left for them makes a difference if they don't have the right conditions in their body. For example a hen will not usually go broody when moulting or ill or when not laying in winter or too soon after raising chicks or when very young or very old etc. Certain breeds will never brood, and then it is down to the individual bird's body.

I have several broody pure bantam breeds who have hatched me several batches of chicks and some of them are very regular in their cycles, but some are less predictable. My serama hen only lays for three to four weeks then goes broody. My game hen can lay anywhere between two and five months before brooding. She WILL go broody, but I can never be sure when.

I would never make firm plans to hatch eggs with a chicken who is not yet broody. Always wait until you see the first signs (I. E. Spending more and more time on the nest each day) before you consider setting eggs.