Taming the broody urge

[flakey chick]

I have been waiting for a broody to expand my flock with less stress. My most broody girl started to signal she was thinking about going broody again. She has been plucking out her breast feathers and practicing her broody squawk while in the box. Now that I have ordered some fertile eggs, she doesn't seem quite so interested. She does have her own box that only she is using. Will giving her a bunch of eggs help those broody urges? Anything to likely to get her boody short of incubating myself, THEN having her sit?

 

[chickluver:D]

well if you want the chicken to do you need a rooster they usaly do not sit on eggs that they have not layed because they dont know if there fertile

 

[feathersnuggles]

Give her a "clutch" to sit on. They could be plastic or golf balls or regular eggs. If she sits pancaked-down on them, with her wings slightly extended, you're probably in luck. Then, when the fertile eggs arrive, you have to carefully replace the fakes under her with the fertile eggs. I'd choose night, to do this. Less chance of disturbing her.

 

[flakey chick]

Well I have been leaving a couple her own eggs in the box. She has always been a sharp one recognizing fake eggs as dudd eggs. When she was getting ready to lay her first egg, she kicked the fake eggs out of the box. I may put a large batch of her own eggs in instead of just the 2.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Well, you're lucky having a smart hen. Ours are dismayed & frustrated if they find their beloved golf balls absent from the nests, LOL!

 

[Kittymomma]

chickluver :

well if you want the chicken to do you need a rooster they usaly do not sit on eggs that they have not layed because they dont know if there fertile

? They'll lay on shavings alone if they're feeling broody, there's just not too much you can do to make one broody. She'll let you know when she's ready.​