How to encourage a Hen to go broody

[nippo]

Hi, I'm wanting to hatch some ply rock chicks. Only problem is I don't have a broody hen. Has anyone got some tips to help this problem. And incase your wondering, at the moment I have mature Golden laced wyandotte bantams, Black silkies and Orpingtons.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you want to only hatch naturally then you need a huge number of hens and most or all of them laying so that you will always have a hen going broody. Sorry. Broody hens start siting as a response to the number of eggs she has laid.

 

[appps]

I'd just be patient, if you have silkies you have all you need really lol

Our silkie goes broody on a very regular basis. Just give it time and one will go broody with no help at all if they are anything like our one.

 

[rockinpaints]

It's nature.........

Cheers from Ohio!

Glad you could join us!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[BrendaJ]

You can also try keep some fake eggs in the nest

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! As appps said, with silkies it is usually just a matter or time. Here is the BYC article on Broody hens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens

 

[nippo]

Hi, as BrendaJ said, I'll just keep some fake eggs in the nest. Hopefully it works.
Thanks for all the replies.

 

[drumstick diva]

Not all silkie hens go broody but, probably a majority of them do. They'll do it when they are ready, tho having other broody around seems to trigger it in other hens.