Making a hen go broody?

[ConchRepublic]

Are there any tricks to make a hen go broody? I have a silkie pullet who is close to laying age and a Gypsy hen who is already laying. I know both these breeds go broody a lot, but I was wondering if there are any tips to get them to go into it when I want them to do so. I don't mind if they do it on there own, just would like at least a bit of a stock of fertile eggs for when they do go broody.

 

[gritsar]

Nope, a hen will go broody when she gets darn good and ready to and not a second before.

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:
Figured lol, my gypsy keeps teasing me. She acts like she going broody for the entire day, then hops off in the afternoon and never bothers with the nest for a couple days.

 

[5chickenluver7]

I am hatching with a broody right now. I asked this same question and one person said you can lock them in the nest box. I tried and it just made my hen upset, a couple weeks later she went broody on her own and is doing great! I suggest letting her go broody on her own, if yours is as stubborn as mine, you could try it though if you are not wanting to get the eggs right away!
My hens eggs hatch tomorrow by the way!

 

[gritsar]

IMO, locking them in a nestbox is going to accomplish one thing. Make them never want to go near that particular nestbox again.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Nothing you can do about it. It is a natural instinct in them to go broody. There are many hens that never go broody. Out of all our girls we only had 4 go broody last year and one of those 4 went broody 4 times. Go figure. If you think your hen might go broody you could always keep a stash of eggs ready and rotate new ones in and old ones out so you will have some on hand if she should turn broody. But you would want her to lay all her natural eggs first and when she stops laying then add the extra eggs otherwise she might end up with too many eggs to set on.