How do I know if my hens will go broody??

[ChickenDude94]

I have a flock of silkies and bantam Cochins. This is there first time. They just hit 7-8 months old and they started laying eggs. The weather in Ohio is cold... I found 3 eggs in the nesting box but they were freezing. I was scared they wouldnt become broody so I took the eggs out and now they r in the incubater with quail eggs. But should I have taken them out?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Yes, I would have removed them. No use trying to hatch frozen eggs. If you want to encourage them leave some wooden or plastic eggs in the nest and then swap them out for real ones when you get a broody. Don't be surprised if your girls wait until spring though. But, I've got 2 broody Silkies at the moment, so it really just depends on your girls anyway.
Nikki

 

[Den in Penn]

You don't know if your girls will go broody, until they do. You have the breeds that do go broody though. When they start to go broody they will walk around puffed out and somewhat distracted,stay in the nest box more. When they do go completely into the broody mode they will stay in the nest, pancake and zone out while in the nest, and usually have a attitude if you reach into the nest. Some but not all will pluck their belly. Until they go broody I would take the eggs.