Is there a way to make hens broody?

[amelia413]

I know it might be a silly question but I have a flock of 28 hens and not a song one has gone broody, is there a certain age or time when they become broody? I usually hatch in incubators but I have heard that it is easier to hatch with a hen because the chicks will be part of the flock once birthed, any ideas?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You cannot make a hen go broody. It totally depends on her hormone levels.

Hormone levels depend on her genetics.

Genetics depend on her breed.

Be aware that commercial layer lines have been carefully selected for egg production which means they have also been deselected for brooding as brooding isn't laying.

Very few commercial layer types will ever brood. (It happens...sometimes you get one...but it is uncommon).

As to those breeds that are genetically predisposed to brooding? (Think Silkie, bantam Cochin, Game, some breeder quality Buff Orpingtons, breeder quality Marans), well, you can encourage those lovely genetic hormones which are always bubbling in the background to kick in by providing a warm, quiet, isolated, dark nest, with a clutch of fake eggs to sit upon.

The warmth, darkness, and solitude relax the hen, and the pressure on the breast bone literally helps release hormones from the pituitary gland that encourages brooding.

But only if you have a predisposed type. I could literally throw my Silkies into a brood with the right handling...but they were always almost half brooding most of the time. Other larger fowl are seasonal and nothing helped out of season. (April through June is usually high season).

And yes, setting eggs under a brooding hen is incredibly easy. Momma does all the work.

I intentionally bought Silkies and Bantam Cochins to form a brooding stable so I would have somebody going broody almost any given time. Others use Games.

My experiences.
LofMc

 

[ashlierami]

I know it might be a silly question but I have a flock of 28 hens and not a song one has gone broody, is there a certain age or time when they become broody? I usually hatch in incubators but I have heard that it is easier to hatch with a hen because the chicks will be part of the flock once birthed, any ideas?

I believe broody us hormonal. Either the hen goes through the necessary hormonal time to want to mother chicks or she doesn't. In my flock I have observed that once one goes broody it's as if her "aura" made every one want to be a mother . Also when the other hens would see or be around the newly hatched chicks they would want that to. My girls went broody one right after the next as soon as one went broody. Ever since December I've had nothing but broody girls. That is when my first hen hatched her chick. It is easier in terms of care ans warmth. Then hen does everything she just requires food shelter and water and she takes care of the rest. As far as being part of the flock that is depending on the hen. Some of my girls would go back to the flock and some would keep to themselves with their chicks and then once the chicks were older they would be interested in being part of the flock again.