How to make her broody?

[beckymom3]

I am getting some pretty bantam hens and am hoping to use them to hatch shipped eggs. How do I go about this? Has anyone ever done this before? I figure I could let them lay, leave the eggs, then sneak in the shipped eggs the day she gets broody. Any thoughts on this? Or will a hen with the broody tendency just go broody if she sees a bunch of eggs looking lonely?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[al6517]

Not possible to force broodiness, can't be done. Although you can stop or halt a hen from going broody, you can't artificialy bring on the cycle.

AL

 

[TexasVet]

You can't really force broodiness, but I do notice mine going broody more often if I leave eggs in nests all day. So you can try it, just don't count on it.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.ChickenTrackin.com

 

[Daidohead]

I found this great post on here about forcing a brood. Here's what it said. Beautiful bird, I just love frizzles!

Bard's Rock! wrote:
92caddy wrote:

Yes you can make a hen go broody, it will take a bit of time, but it can be done, I have done it many of times.

You take the hen and put her in a box that is totally dark, just enough room for her to sit in there, keep her in that box, let her out once a day to eat, drink, and poo, then put her back in there. Give her a hand full of golf balls or fake eggs. It may take a day or 2 or maybe even a week, but it can be done. I have done it many of times, it does work. Some breeds it dont work so well and some breeds it works very easy.............
Yes! This method was featured in Backyard Poultry magazine.

And I actually will be trying this in the spring and I'm hoping to get either one of my buff orps and barred rock to do this! Good luck!



This was a reply to the same question I asked some time ago, I never tried it.