Hatching eggs with broody hens

[RoosterOscar]

I am a first tryer with this and am looking for some help. My hens have started laying about two months ago and I have a rooster about a year old. I want to hatch them in the coop so they do the work! My hens are bantam cochin buff orpingtons and my rooster is a bantam cochin barred rock. When will my hens go broody or how do I get them too? Some people say leave the eggs in the coop then they will go broody and others say they have to choose to go broody. Also, id be interested in some info on all the steps of hatching chicks in an incubator, but first I want to try it with broody hens! Thank you!

 

[Judy]

Broodiiness is a hormonal change, and basically, you have to wait til it happens on its own. Some people seem to have had some success confining a hen to a nes in a darkened place for a few days, but I'[m sure this fails more often than not. Also, some breeds are much more likely to go broody than others. The most broody breeds are

Here is an artice describing the process:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks

In addition to the breeds mentioned, Old English Games, other game breeds such as Asils, and Kraeinkoppes are all very broody breeds. But you can get a broody in any breed. In breeding for egg production, the hatcheries have bred away from broodiness for some generations now, but it seems it never disappears entirely. I have read of broody Leghorns, a decidedly un-broody breed.

 

[scflock]

Hopefully the Cochin in the mix will make them a little more broody minded. I have silkies, and they all brood, but only when they want to. This time of year, all my nests are full. In the spring, I will only collect eggs once a week. If no one sets on them after a week, I will pull those eggs and start fresh. Eventually the urge will kick in. Good luck

 

[Millie Fleur]

hi so i hatch all my chicks with broodys and ive got some tips for u if u want them!
. you should ALWAYS spray the eggs on the 18th day of sitting, it helps the chicks get out on the 21st day and ive had a few disasters when i forgot to do this when shells devloped hard ridges along the sides even though i was taking the broody off every day!
. if your hen has gone broody, try and keep her in a warm, humid and dark place. this keeps her calm and is better conditions for the chicks to hatch in!
hope this helped