How many eggs in clutch before hens set?

[sassylou]

Hey All,
I am lazy and want my hens to incubate their own eggs. Can anyone tell me about how many eggs need to accumulate in the nesting box before their setting behavior is triggered?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hey All,
I am lazy and want my hens to incubate their own eggs. Can anyone tell me about how many eggs need to accumulate in the nesting box before their setting behavior is triggered?

It's triggered by a combination of hormones and individual personality. perhaps if you put a hen in a box with 6 fertile eggs, it would be the inverse of the dog crate breaking method? I have never tried it though, and it would supposedly only work with birds that have a high Broody instinct/ disposition.