Encouraging broodiness?

[chknaddict]

OK, newbie question here. I've hatched eggs once before, in an incubator. These were eggs I bought from someone else. Now my rooster is finally doing his thing and our eggs are fertile (checked some for the "bulls-eye" shape). We still have the incubator but would like to let one of the hens hatch some out. If we leave eggs in the nestbox for a few days, would that encourage broodiness? Or does it just happen spontaneously? Our hens (actually pullets, I guess) range in age from 6.5 to 10.5 months. We've had a couple who seem to like to sit on eggs besides when they lay them, but I haven't thought they were really broody because they didn't get mean when we took the eggs and would eventually get up after we did so.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have 10 nests, and I leave a fake egg in each one. None of mine have ever (yet) decided to become broody. Of course they are young, 25 weeks.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Hens are either broody or they aren't. When they are, it is hard to convince them to do anything other than keep eggs warm.

Your girls are young. Also, some breeds go broody more often than others. Sounds like you might have to wait until spring. Probably wouldn't hurt.

 

[al6517]

I haven't heard any real ideas to encourage a hen to go broody, I don't think it can be done. You can however do things to break a broody hens behavior.

AL

 

[chknaddict]

Thanks for the replies. We went ahead and put the eggs in the incubator yesterday since no one appears broody (even the older girls).