How do i make my Hen go broody?

[bobbi-j]

OK, I quit reading somewhere on page 7, but will comment anyway. (I usually try to at least get through the thread first, to make sure I'm not just repeating someone else's information, but I couldn't stand the bickering any longer.) OP, I have no doubt that your NHR went broody and raised chicks. Any hen can go broody. It's just that there are some breeds that are more prone to it, and some that are less prone to do so, so not all hens will. I don't believe you can force or influence a hen to go broody. It happens in their own time, when the conditions are right. If you're in the US and in the middle of winter, chances are slim a hen will go broody whether you could influence it or not. The longer daylight hours in the spring will help that to happen, just like it gets them laying eggs again. If you want chicks on your schedule, your best bet is to get an incubator and use that. Otherwise, wait it out and if your girl goes broody again, give her some eggs.

 

[tripletfeb]

I just thought of something! OP, do you even have a rooster?

 

[bobbi-j]

Okay. If you want a broody hen, as has been stated earlier in this thread, I suggest you get yourself a couple of nice Buff Orpingtons. In MY experience, they are the BEST. I started out with 8. I think six of them went broody within a few weeks of beginning to lay. They all hatched chicks. They spent that spring and summer taking care of babies. When fall and winter came, they didn't lay because of short daylight hours. Come spring, they each laid a few eggs and went broody again. At this point I only had four. Year three was a repeat of years one and two. I got tired of constantly trying to break them out of their broodiness and they all went to freezer camp. Bottom line, for me, you can't beat Orps for broodiness. But if you want eggs, try another breed.

I've had hatchery BOs for years. Only one went broody once. She was in a vulnerable spot, so I moved her and her nest. She flipped out, busted all the eggs, and never went broody again. I don't think any of mine have gotten the memo that they are supposed to be broody.

 

[EverV]

I just thought of something! OP, do you even have a rooster?

They have multiple. They also have a very long thread arguing against everyone on BYC that a chicken who is almost definitely a hen is a rooster.
ETA: Sorry, this sounds kind of mean. I didn't mean for it to sound this way.

 

[bobbi-j]

As far as grammar and spelling go, while I believe both are important, I also feel that maturity and kindness can go a long way as well, rather than attacking someone's area in which they may struggle. You want to help, offer it privately, not in a snide way on a public forum.

 

[theminimizer]

I also didn't read the entire thread, but I did have something crazy happen . . . One of my 7 month old RIR pullets had a huge chunk of poo stuck to her bum for more than a day. I decided to clean it off with the hose. It totally wouldn't budge, so I attempted to rip it off, even if I pulled out a few feathers. No luck, it was like cement. Finally, I brought in the house, so put her in a warm bath so I could work out the poo from her feathers. It was a gross process, but a half hour later, she was clean and happy. The next day she went broody. Pretty sure it was just a coincidence, but my 12 year old is positive that I caused her to go broody.

 

[bobbi-j]

It is very hard to help someone when you cannot figure out what they are trying to say.

I agree.

 

[SerrarGett]

I don't know if someone already posted the link to their source but here it is: New Hampshire Reds (dare2dreamfarms.com)
There are several other sources saying the exact same thing, but even if OP is right, they are acting very irrational. Every chicken has their own hormones, and breeds are often stereotyped off of a single person's experience. There could a NHR who raised several batches of chicks, and an Orphington how never once went broody. Just like people, chickens are diverse.

 

[SerrarGett]

I didn't realize everyone was done with this conversation. Oh well!

 

[NatJ]

Hi ow do i make my hens go broody to hatch eggs?

Provide the right conditions (safe nest, fake or real eggs to sit on, right season of the year).
Then hope you have a hen that wants to.

well my 2 of my New Hampshire gotton broody before

Then there's a good chance that those hens will go broody again, maybe when spring comes.

For any breed, there are some hens that go broody and some that do not. And some of the broody ones make good mothers, and some do not. When people talk about what breeds go broody or make good mothers, they mean it is more likely (or less likely) in a particular breed.

The best choice is a hen that already did go broody, and already was a good mother--and it sounds like you've got some of those!