I wanna fake out my broody!

[Nommie Bringer-Uvda-Noms]

So, I have a broody buff orpington, and that makes me very happy, because I'd much rather have them raise their own. But, I don't have a roo. So my plan is to tuck some fake eggs under her warm little butt, then, when it's time, swap them out for day-old chicks. My question is, do I have to wait the full 21 days? Or can I fake her out sooner? I don't want to leave her sitting there longer than absolutely necessary, but this is my first broody fake-out rodeo, and I don't know exactly what I can get away with, in the timing. Are there things going on that well mess with her head/hormones too much, if I swap fake eggs for chicks, too soon? So far, she's been super sweet, and lets me gently mess with her, looking around under there, but it's only been a couple days. I've got 3 fake eggs, but can get more, tomorrow. I want to stick a total of 10 in there.

 

[bobhoke]

Is she isolated by from other hens

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Since being broody can be hard on hens, I would replace the fake eggs with day old chicks sooner than later. I wouldn’t wait 21 days.... as long as the broody and the chicks are safe from the rest of your flock.
i am anxious to see how this little experiment works out!
Good luck!!!

 

[Minky]

I agree, although I would probably wait 10 days- 2 weeks.... and have a back up plan!

 

[bobhoke]

I’ve done this several times. Don’t take advice from curious people or no experience. Do yourself and the chicks the due diligence.

 

[NatJ]

I have read that a hen will usually not accept chicks until she's been on the nest for almost three weeks--the explanation given was that there are hormonal changes that happen while she is broody, that make her ready to act like a mother.

I have not personally tested this.

(And no matter what is "usually" the case, your own hen could be an exception.)

 

[Nommie Bringer-Uvda-Noms]

Is she isolated by from other hens

I’ve done this several times. Don’t take advice from curious people or no experience. Do yourself and the chicks the due diligence.

She will be isolated, today or tomorrow, with her own food, grit, and water supplies. But, I'm not sure what you mean, by doing due diligence. I've never done this, and I am looking for advice on what to do. How do I time it, for the best chance of making this work, and have it be a good, healthy thing, for everyone? I've heard that if a hen goes broody, and no chicks come off it, sometimes the herbs die, from the combination of malnutrition and grief. I want her to be ok. I've raised her from a day old - her first 4 months or so, she and her brood mates lived in my living room. Local dogs came, a couple months after we moved them pt to the coop, and whipped out 5 of my 11, and hubs and I were devastated. They're very productive girls, but more importantly, they're pets - family. I want to do this right.

 

[Nommie Bringer-Uvda-Noms]

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