Need advice on getting hens to incubate their own eggs.

[tiny529]

Any info would be greatly appreciated. =)

 

[JanO]

You can't force a hen to go broody. It's hormonal and there's no way to predict it, or force it. I know some people have broody hens now, but mine tend to wait until later in the season. If you want to hatch eggs now you will have to go with an incubator, or wait until one of your girls decides to do it herself.

 

[Elke Beck]

Once they start going broody, then you will be back asking how to make it stop.

 

[12321]

I paid $10 last fall for a mutt that I was told would go broody anytime if you left more than 3 eggs in a nest for a few days. Well she went broody at the beginning of January for a month and hasn't done anything since. I got "chicken burned" again. I bought an incubator so no more waiting and hoping for the right time.

 

[tiny529]

My Buff Orpington went broody every few weeks last year but hasn't at all yet this year. My rooster has turned nasty so I'd prefer not to keep him around for too much longer. I REALLY want my hens to hatch and raise their own babies so I'm reluctant to send him to the great rooster beyond just yet.

Still, I need advice... If someone goes broody, then what? Should I move her and the eggs to a separate area?