My unbroody hens

[MyCreoleBirds]

Hello again everyone. I have yet another problem that I cannot seem to solve. My hens won't get bloody and set their eggs, I'm beginning to wonder if they are waiting until they get 20 eggs to start setting them. I have three hens, one stopped laying eggs about a week ago because she is in molting, but the other two almost always lay everyday. However, their are 13 eggs in the next and my family and I are a dozen eggs before those 13 that are currently in the nest. This means that my hens layed a total of 25 eggs, and though there are 13 eggs in the nest right now none of them are getting broody, none of them want the set the eggs, and they are still laying eggs. How do I get them to stop laying eggs and set the 13 eggs that are in the nest now? Oh and these are not any special kind of chickens, these are wild chickens that I caught around my neighbourhood, they don't look like red jungle and they lay eggs just a little smaller than those island hens. Their eggs are a darling cream colour.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many breeds have had the instinct bred out of them. Time of year will play into it too.

 

[N F C]

I'm going to move your post over to a different forum and maybe you'll get more feedback. You're in the New Member forum at the moment.

P.S. I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs, some chickens are just not the broody kind of gals.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Leaving eggs in a nest WON'T cause a hen to go broody.

Some are set for it and others aren't. I collect my eggs EVERY day and have had hens that go broody every third egg they lay... on AIR no matter the season.

Sometimes (often) breed influences this. Other factors like available nutrition, plenty of space, and safety from predators also have heavy impact. Every bird is an individual though..

Where are you located? Adding your general location to your profile will help others to make their best suggestions at a glance. And pics ALWAYS welcome!

I would suggest... collecting (and storing properly) the eggs you hope to set every day... maybe leaving some behind (find a way to mark the old eggs and collect those leaving the new ones for the next day type thing) so the nest isn't being raided by a predator.. Eat any eggs older than 14 days as their "best" chance for viability has passed. If you do get a broody hen THEN you set ALL the eggs you want her try and hatch under her at the same time.

Are the eggs even fertile? Do they have a rooster with them?

Good luck!

ETA: I also have some hens that never showed a broody bone to this day all in the same situation.

 

[alexa009]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Age and breed are the two prime reasons your hens won't go broody. A young hen can't be coaxed to go broody because she is not mentally mature and doesn't fully understand the process of sitting on eggs and brooding chicks. Some chickens who are certain breeds e.g Leghorns have broodiness bred out of their instincts. So it isn't in their genetics.

 

[MyCreoleBirds]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Leaving eggs in a nest WON'T cause a hen to go broody.

Some are set for it and others aren't. I collect my eggs EVERY day and have had hens that go broody every third egg they lay... on AIR no matter the season.

Sometimes (often) breed influences this. Other factors like available nutrition, plenty of space, and safety from predators also have heavy impact. Every bird is an individual though..

Where are you located? Adding your general location to your profile will help others to make their best suggestions at a glance. And pics ALWAYS welcome!

I would suggest... collecting (and storing properly) the eggs you hope to set every day... maybe leaving some behind (find a way to mark the old eggs and collect those leaving the new ones for the next day type thing) so the nest isn't being raided by a predator.. Eat any eggs older than 14 days as their "best" chance for viability has passed. If you do get a broody hen THEN you set ALL the eggs you want her try and hatch under her at the same time.

Are the eggs even fertile? Do they have a rooster with them?

Good luck!

ETA: I also have some hens that never showed a broody bone to this day all in the same situation.

Yes, I had two roosters in the coop with them, but I got rid of one of them today. Oh and I am located in the Caribbean.

 

[MyCreoleBirds]

I'm going to move your post over to a different forum and maybe you'll get more feedback. You're in the New Member forum at the moment.

P.S. I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs, some chickens are just not the broody kind of gals.

thank you

 

[aart]

How do I get them to stop laying eggs and set

You can't....it's up to their hormones.
If you really want to hatch eggs, better get an incubator.

 

[cmom]

I noticed you are a fairly new member. Relax, in the spring most likely you will have a bird go broody. Some breeds are more prone to go broody than others. Usually in the spring I have several who want to brood. I haven't used a broody in many years. Now I put the eggs I want to hatch in an incubator.

 

[MyCreoleBirds]

I noticed you are a fairly new member. Relax, in the spring most likely you will have a bird go broody. Some breeds are more prone to go broody than others. Usually in the spring I have several who want to brood. I haven't used a broody in many years. Now I put the eggs I want to hatch in an incubator.

When exactly is spring? Knowing when the seasons are is really tricky for me because I live in the Caribbean and it's summer all year around here.