To brood or not to brood

[Gary palmer]

My hens keep teasing me. They will sit on eggs overnight in various places and then stop after a day or two. Is this normal? Is there something i can do?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Collect your eggs more often. Are you wanting a broody? It will happen with or without eggs if a hen is predisposed to going broody.

 

[Gary palmer]

I collect each night but they found a new hiding place. Yes i would like more chicks. Its happened a number of times were a hen wouldn't come in at night and was hangin in a nesting box, but a day or two later, they give up

 

[Little duck farm]

My duckling had this also, it was spraddle leg, tap the legs together about half inch apart for 48 hours and you will find a difference once you take tap off. They will have a hard time at first walking but give them half a day and they will be up on there legs just keep an eye on them, Also add brewers yeast to food, good luck

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I collect each night but they found a new hiding place. Yes i would like more chicks. Its happened a number of times were a hen wouldn't come in at night and was hangin in a nesting box, but a day or two later, they give up

Some never go completely broody. Yours don't actually sound broody, as being broody is a hormonal state that doesn't stop after a few days. Could be your coop is too small or not comfortable to sleep in, so they stay out.

 

[aart]

Its happened a number of times were a hen wouldn't come in at night and was hangin in a nesting box, but a day or two later, they give up

Are your nests outside of the coop?

 

[Gary palmer]

Well, they've made nests outside

 

[aart]

Well, they've made nests outside

Ahh, I see.
I would 'train' them to lay in the coop nests,
once they are used to that they may feel safe enough to stay broody.

 

[RWise]

I had a pullet that would spend a night in the nest once every 7 days. She was laying at night, that worked out soon, and she dropped to 6 eggs a week.
I also had a hen that would go broody every 12 eggs, like clock work.
When I want to encourage (you cannot force them) one of them to go broody, I pick a nest and plant golf balls in it. As I take 1 egg out I put 1 golf ball in. If more than 1 hen uses the nest I may add an extra golf ball or 2, but never more than 3 (max of 12-15). Then if/when a girl sets on them, at night I take the golf balls and replace them with eggs I have selected.