making a hen go broody

[Mrs. K]

Now, I have done some looking, but most of the posts are about making a hen or wishing a hen would go broody that has never gone broody before. That is not my case.

I am basically in a do over mode, I have 5 hens, 3 of which went broody for me last summer, but of course in July and August - when I could not get either the chicks I wanted or a good source of fertilized eggs. I currently have a chicks on order for late March or first of April. What I would like, is for two hens to be setting when those chicks arrive. If I don't, I can easily brood them myself, if this doesn't work.

I think I read a post here where the person said, with a known broody hen, they could get them broody in a few days, but I will be danged if I can find it. I wish I had pinned it or copied it. I think it went like this:

• Take a crate, and a clutch of eggs (fake) and a nest, and add the hen that has been broody before.
• Lock her in there, letting her out once a day
• within a few days - she is suppose to be broody

I won't lose anything to try it. And if it doesn't work, I can still raise the chicks.

Do any of you remember this post - or where it is? Or tried something similar. I know they will go broody, and they were good mothers. I would just like to try it on my time frame.

Any advice?

Mrs K

 

[Silkie Princess]

I'm gonna try this for the easter HAL

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

I think it may work. For mine all I have to do is put some golf balls in a nesting box.

 

[neo71665]

Personally I think a hen going broody is more in her hormones than locking a bird up and wishing it on her. You might luck out and lock her up about the time her body is telling her to but I think your just gonna end up with a hen in a create with a nest of eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

Personally I think a hen going broody is more in her hormones than locking a bird up and wishing it on her. You might luck out and lock her up about the time her body is telling her to but I think your just gonna end up with a hen in a create with a nest of eggs.

I am also afraid that you have a strong chance of being right. I was hoping that someone would remember where that post was.

I am going to try and enhance it, but providing a 'new' nest in the corner with a towel partially covering the opening. See if I can get anyone to lay there. Then remove any real eggs and add fake eggs over the course of a couple days... pray and cross my fingers...
and watch carefully.

Then lock up any takers, or who I think is my best bet. It won't hurt much to try.

What would be kind of neat is for a couple or more of us to try it.

Mrs K

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My broodys arent even laying so they wont randomly start sitting unless they started lating again

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree - mine are just now coming into lay, but I have 2+ solid months to go before I need them. I won't ask them to set the whole 3 weeks... I am thinking if they are broody about 10 days should be enough for them to take the chicks.

Mrs K

 

[3KillerBs]

I think that the increasing day length of spring would set up favorable conditions.

 

[neo71665]

I wish ya luck but not depending on broody birds is one of the reasons I have an incubator.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Here's just a theory: The sound of chicks getting a hen to want to brood. Just a theory though.

Also, something to think about... Is it it's hormones, if there's something that you can give your hen to increase those?