Going Broody?

[GuineaLady93]

Can you make a hen go broody? Or how does it work? Like my RIR is laying one egg each morning in the same spot, I have been getting the eggs each day. If I add about 15 or 20 eggs to her nest will she sit on them??
Thanks,
Ashley

 

[Gypsy07]

You can't make a hen go broody, but if you have one that you know is prone to broodiness you could probably encourage it by giving her some eggs to sit on. Your hen doesn't sound broody, just normal. Most of my hens all have their favourite places to lay, but they only sit around for maybe half an hour at a time, apart from one loud old witch who sits cackling at top volume for ninety minutes each day. Any longer than that, and you can suspect broodiness...

Oh, and 15-20 eggs is a bit much to expect a hen to cover. A dozen at most would be reasonable...

 

[GuineaLady93]

Ok thanks.

 

[Tiss]

RIR's are not known for broodiness, (but neither are red sex links and I've had 2 of them go broody this summer). With 18 chickens, someone is bound to want to be a mama eventually. How old are your girls?

 

[GuineaLady93]

Quote:
I got my 4 RIR hens from a auction so I don't know how old they are. I don't think they are too old. My Buff Orpingtons are 1 and then I have some 5 month old game mix.

 

[kannna]

Got any Silkies? They're broody all the time. The games might go for it. Bit young though.

 

[GuineaLady93]

Quote:
No I don't, but I have been thinking about getting some.

 

[sumi]

If you leave her eggs in the nest she may go broody. Just don't give her too many. About a dozen should be enough. Mark the eggs so you know which ones are fresh. A friend of mine does this. He leaves the eggs and removes the fresh ones after a few days, when the hen goes broody he sometimes removes the old eggs and give her fresh ones. I've had a hen lay up to 13 eggs over 15 days and hatch every single one of them. But eggs over two weeks old may be a bit too old for hatching.
Good luck!

 

[GuineaLady93]

I put the eggs in one of my Buff Orpingtons nests and she was looking and looking at them then she went in like she was going to sit on them. keep your fingers crossed!

 

[sumi]

Fingers crossed! It may take them awhile to get the hint.
One of my hens went broody today and is sitting on eggs now. I'm so exited! I love it when they hatch chicks.
Keep us posted, hey.