Encouraging broodiness?

[newchickiemom48]

Want to try getting a few babies this year. Would like to try natural way first. My book says they need a clutch of about 8 eggs before they sit and to use plastic eggs to get them started. I tried last week to put 3 of their eggs into a very fluffy nest, hoping somebody would sit on them, but when I came out later they were gone. Any suggestions on this? Clueless new mom.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m not sure what you are asking. Is it about getting a hen to go broody or is it about the eggs disappearing?

If you are talking about getting a hen to go broody, I’ve tried that a couple of times and it did not work. Added a fake egg a day until I had a dozen, then left them for a couple of weeks. Some people are convinced it does work. Hens go broody because of hormones. Some hens, especially production breeds, have had a lot of the broodiness bred out of them. This is just my opinion, but I think if you have a hen thinking about going broody it might help, but it has to be in the nest she uses. If she is not thinking about it, I don’t think it helps. I’ve had hens go broody with no eggs in the nest.

If those eggs disappeared you need to figure out why. A hen can’t hatch eggs if something is taking them.

 

[newchickiemom48]

I was wondering mostly about the broodiness. I think the hens are eating their own eggs. They have done it before. Not sure exactly why. Their feed is the highest protein content, they have fresh water, and I use the osyter shell in their feed. Not sure if it is behavioral or if there is a fixable reason for it. Maybe it was because I relocated the eggs from the floor to a nester box? I will try the fake eggs in the corner where they like to lay. Thanks for your reply.