how to get cochin hen to go broody

[BigBlueHen53]

If you want to hatch eggs, it sounds as if you need to invest in an electric incubator. Or maybe look up how to build one. But then you are going to have to raise the chicks yourself and also, what will you do with the ones that turn out to be cockerels, or baby roosters?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How do I encourage her to go broody

How old is she? How long has she been laying? Has she ever been broody before? Do you know if her mother or grandmothers ever went broody?

Whether they go broody or not is genetic. If they have the broody genetics they may go broody once a year, go broody three or four times a year, or never go broody. If her mother or grandmothers ever went broody the chances of her going broody are higher. It is not a guarantee, just better odds.

Some breeds, like Cochin, are known to go broody. That does not mean every one will go broody. You may get one out of three to go broody, maybe all three go broody. Maybe none ever do. You never know until it happens.

Some people have gotten a hen to go broody after stacking up fake eggs or real eggs. I don't know if that helps or if it is just a coincidence. A few times I've added an egg a day until I had a dozen and then left them for two or three weeks to try to get one to go broody. Usually I use golf balls but I did use real eggs (marked) once. One time I had a hen go broody but I don't think that counts, she went broody on a different nest. I have hens in my flock that do go broody and they did later in the year but I was trying to get them to hatch earlier in the year than usual.

You can try stacking the eggs and see how it goes but I would not expect much. Good luck!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I've had a few hens that'd go broody during times of me not collecting the eggs, but it really depends on the hen. I've gone days to weeks without collecting eggs with breeds who are known to go broody, and some went broody and some didn't. As everyone else has said, it really depends on the bird.
How old is she and has she ever gone broody before? Even though most will say hens will start brooding when they're older, I've found that not to be a factor in most cases. I've had hens go broody as early as four months old and I've had hens stop going broody in their old age, as well as 6-7 year old hens never going broody despite being a broody breed and everyone else in the flock trying it at least once.
Often, I find brooders being repeat offenders. They'll go broody within their first two years of age (some within their first year) and will be faithful every year after. If they're not allowed to hatch, they'll be determined to brood anyway and will sit until you stop them, and then go broody a month or so later.
It is getting late in the season, depending on where you live (country wise), so it might be too late to get her to go broody anyway. This isn't always the case, but for the better brooders, it is. Some of my best brooders would often go broody between June-August.

On a side note of all of this, did you get this Cochin specifically to brood? I've never had Cochins, but from what I gather, they're determined brooders, but not good mothers. If you wanted a good mother, you might want to consider a different breed like an Orpington or another breed. Otherwise, you might be raising the chicks yourself, or have a poor hatch rate. I've had Orpington brooders and they were the best. I've also had some good Marans, but my only thing on them is I couldn't fit as many eggs under them.

Also, where did you get your Cochin? Chickens from a hatchery are less likely to brood than one from a local breeder who's breeding quality. Hatcheries are typically breeding quantity and not quality, so often the breeding instinct is bred out. Plus, hens who are constantly in the nesting box is no good for a hatchery who is using incubators, so that's another reason to breed it out of them. A good breeder is typically breeding for quality and some breeders might be using their hens as brooders, so you might already have a good family line of brooders anyway.
Now I have gotten a good broody from a hatchery before and didn't get a single brooder from a breeder, so again, it depends on the bird and there's always exceptions. Most of my brooders though, came from breeders and not hatcheries.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I've never had Cochins, but from what I gather, they're determined brooders, but not good mothers.

Where did you find or hear this? I've heard only the opposite, that they're great mothers. Both from folks here and from a friend of a friend who breeds and sells them.

Mainly curious because I've got one.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Where did you find or hear this? I've heard only the opposite, that they're great mothers. Both from folks here and from a friend of a friend who breeds and sells them.

Mainly curious because I've got one.

I have a friend who has Cochins and is always having issues with them being bad mothers. They hatch their chicks and either won't leave the nest, or will abandon their chicks young just to go broody again. That's why I said, they're determined brooders, but not good mothers.

As far as poor hatch rate, I've read, but haven't had enough feathered legged brooders to test this, is that hens with feathered legs tend to accidentally turn the eggs with their feathers when stepping on and off the nest. Again, I haven't fully tested that to see if it has an effect or not.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I have a friend who has Cochins and is always having issues with them being bad mothers. They hatch their chicks and either won't leave the nest, or will abandon their chicks young just to go broody again. That's why I said, they're determined brooders, but not good mothers.

As far as poor hatch rate, I've read, but haven't had enough feathered legged brooders to test this, is that hens with feathered legs tend to accidentally turn the eggs with their feathers when stepping on and off the nest. Again, I haven't fully tested that to see if it has an effect or not.

Interesting. Hopefully mine does okay whenever I decide to let her try to hatch eggs.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

How do I encourage her to go broody

Fresh eggs daily I once read that if you put chamomile or try lavender and hope the chicken feels safe and relaxed, it could help the hen become broody. I don't know if it's true. I definitely would leave the eggs. The other thing she says is to leave food and water nearby the nesting boxes. Also make her nesting boxes fluffy and comfy.

 

[Beau plus penny]

I have a friend who has Cochins and is always having issues with them being bad mothers. They hatch their chicks and either won't leave the nest, or will abandon their chicks young just to go broody again. That's why I said, they're determined brooders, but not good mothers.

As far as poor hatch rate, I've read, but haven't had enough feathered legged brooders to test this, is that hens with feathered legs tend to accidentally turn the eggs with their feathers when stepping on and off the nest. Again, I haven't fully tested that to see if it has an effect or not.

ive never heard of that happening when i set my cochin by the eggs she gentle moved them with her peak unlike the others pecking the eggs

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where did you find or hear this? I've heard only the opposite, that they're great mothers. Both from folks here and from a friend of a friend who breeds and sells them.

Mainly curious because I've got one.

I believe that certain breeds have tendencies. An Orpington or Cochin is more likely to go broody than a Rhode Island Red or Leghorn. But some Orpington or Cochin never go broody, occasionally a Rhode Island Red or Leghorn will. If they go broody, most Orpington, Cochin, RIR, or Leghorn are great at incubating the eggs and raising the chicks that hatch. Occasionally you get one that is not good at one or both of these.

You only have one Cochin. A single individual. Averages do not mean much with her. Your odds of her sometime going broody are decent but you certainly do not get a guarantee. If she does go broody the chances are that she will do a good job but you don't know that.

But the way this forum works, if she goes broody and does a good job you will probably believe that every Cochin in the world will go broody and will do a good job. If she never goes broody or goes broody and does not do a good job you will think every Cochin in the world is identical. That's just the way it is, whether talking about broody hens or most other things on here.

You want a broody. I hope she or another of your hens goes broody and does a good job. Don't be afraid to trust a broody, no matter the breed. Most will do a good job.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

I don't know if I'm allowed to do this. I know I'm not allowed to send people to other forms by screenshotting it.

OK, I've messaged staff members just to make sure.