How to Encourage a Hen to Brood

[TammyRoesch]

My girls are 4.5 months old and several of them just started laying a week ago. I would like to encourage them to brood and raise some baby chickens for us. What is the best way to do that? Do I need to build anything special in the coop? Right now, they just have the roost and a place to lay their eggs.

 

[3KillerBs]

Anyone who ever figures out exactly how to get a chicken to go broody when her owner wants her to go broody will quickly become a millionaire.

I personally break my young pullets broodiness if they go broody before they're at least 6-8 months old because I don't want them depriving their bodies of the energy needed to reach their full growth.

Beyond that, here is a splendid article on broodiness that I have relied on for managing my broodies.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

 

[TammyRoesch]

Anyone who ever figures out exactly how to get a chicken to go broody when her owner wants her to go broody will quickly become a millionaire.

I personally break my young pullets broodiness if they go broody before they're at least 6-8 months old because I don't want them depriving their bodies of the energy needed to reach their full growth.

Beyond that, here is a splendid article on broodiness that I have relied on for managing my broodies.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

thank you very much!

 

[fluffycrow]

Since your girls are only 4.5 month old, and they only started laying about a week ago, I would say wait

Technically, they could go broody right now, especially if you have a breed that is know for going broody all the time, but they are really young, and the weather is not yet perfect, nor the right season, so right now, your odds are low

They are pretty young, which means that they are not even that experienced with the whole egg laying process, let alone brooding. Later during the spring months, you will have way more success

Now to answer your original question, you can try to encourage them, but that doesn't guarantee they'll go broody, especially if they're of a breed that isn't known for it

The ways I've found most helpful are:
1. Leave eggs in the nest boxes for the hens to collect
2. Make sure your nest boxes are clean, and preferably dimly lit
3. Feed good food
4. Warmer temperatures help
5. Spring, early and late summer, as well as early spring are the best seasons

This is a general guide, but I want to stress again the fact that your girls are pretty young, brooding takes a toll on their bodies, and it's a shame to put a young hen through that only to then abandon the chicks because she is inexperienced

 

[Sussex19]

I agree that they are a bit young for one to want them to go broody.
If one leaves a 4 or 5 fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes, it can encourage them, but most likely only if they were already thinking about it.

 

[TammyRoesch]

Since your girls are only 4.5 month old, and they only started laying about a week ago, I would say wait

Technically, they could go broody right now, especially if you have a breed that is know for going broody all the time, but they are really young, and the weather is not yet perfect, nor the right season, so right now, your odds are low

They are pretty young, which means that they are not even that experienced with the whole egg laying process, let alone brooding. Later during the spring months, you will have way more success

Now to answer your original question, you can try to encourage them, but that doesn't guarantee they'll go broody, especially if they're of a breed that isn't known for it

The ways I've found most helpful are:
1. Leave eggs in the nest boxes for the hens to collect
2. Make sure your nest boxes are clean, and preferably dimly lit
3. Feed good food
4. Warmer temperatures help
5. Spring, early and late summer, as well as early spring are the best seasons

This is a general guide, but I want to stress again the fact that your girls are pretty young, brooding takes a toll on their bodies, and it's a shame to put a young hen through that only to then abandon the chicks because she is inexperienced

Yes, I wouldn't want them to start brooding yet...it's very cold here, we are in OHIO...but I'm just trying to think ahead as to what I have to build to encourage them, in the coop. I don't really have NEST BOXES...as you can see in the picture above, the red contraption is where they are to lay their eggs, but they can't brood there.

 

[fluffycrow]

Yes, I wouldn't want them to start brooding yet...it's very cold here, we are in OHIO...but I'm just trying to think ahead as to what I have to build to encourage them, in the coop. I don't really have NEST BOXES...as you can see in the picture above, the red contraption is where they are to lay their eggs, but they can't brood there.

I see

Since you don't want them hatching in your current nest boxes, you have two options:
1. Build new ones and place them in the coop
2. Let them go broody in your current ones and then transfer them wherever you want

I will say though, inexperienced hens often give up after being moved, you usually have to wait a couple of days for them to fully go into broody mode, and then move them, but you still take a risk, and your chances are far lower because of their age

I say, go for early summer hatching or next year

You can try late summer to early spring, but especially if it gets cold quickly in your area, I wouldn't recommend it. As I've said a bunch of times by now, inexperienced mothers might not be so good at keeping their eggs and then their chicks warm, and during those months that can be a death sentence.

I will say though, I might make it sound like letting a younger inexperienced hen brood is the worst thing you can possibly do, but for a hen to become experienced she needs to gain it
So don't become totally discouraged from letting your hens hatched, I am just trying to highlight the risks so that you can prepare

 

[TammyRoesch]

I see

Since you don't want them hatching in your current nest boxes, you have two options:
1. Build new ones and place them in the coop
2. Let them go broody in your current ones and then transfer them wherever you want

I will say though, inexperienced hens often give up after being moved, you usually have to wait a couple of days for them to fully go into broody mode, and then move them, but you still take a risk, and your chances are far lower because of their age

I say, go for early summer hatching or next year

You can try late summer to early spring, but especially if it gets cold quickly in your area, I wouldn't recommend it. As I've said a bunch of times by now, inexperienced mothers might not be so good at keeping their eggs and then their chicks warm, and during those months that can be a death sentence.

I will say though, I might make it sound like letting a younger inexperienced hen brood is the worst thing you can possibly do, but for a hen to become experienced she needs to gain it
So don't become totally discouraged from letting your hens hatched, I am just trying to highlight the risks so that you can prepare

I really appreciate the advice...thank you!

 

[fluffycrow]

I really appreciate the advice...thank you!

No problem, glad I could help! I would love to hear updates, so when they do go broody, you can make another thread and document it! Also if you don't mind me asking, what breed does your flock consist of