How to encourage a hen to go broody?

[noobiechickenlady]

I have 5 RIR and an EE. I do have a rooster. The ladies just started laying. I really would like them to raise babies without me having to build or buy an incubator. I can deal with brooding them after they are hatched if I don't get a good mommy bird, I just don't want to deal with the hatching part.

Any suggestions on "helping" a hen go broody?

 

[MonkeyZero]

Well, I heard that if you let eggs gather in the nest, she MAY go broody. Im not that good with broodies, but my old hen(this was last year) went broody. I forgot to collect eggs for about 4 days and she went broody
Good Luck

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Some breeds tend to go broody easier than others. Rhode Islands are not one of them. Not to say that you won't get a broody hen, just that it is less likely. While there are suggestions to encourage broodiness (search this forum), I don't personally think any of them are all that reliable.

I'd just enjoy eggs for your new layers for awhile. If you are lucky, one day you will discover a hen that is being pretty protective of her nest and isn't leaving it day after day. Then you can try putting some fertile eggs under and see how it goes.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Okay, apparently I mistyped when I was searching cause I couldn't find anything this morning when I looked!
Thanks all!