Trying to make a chicken broody! Help!

[McChooky]

get a silkie. Demeter my paint silkie has been broody for 51 days now.

Not a good idea.They can die in the middle of raising chicks

 

[Rock17]

Not a good idea.They can die in the middle of raising chicks

She is not raising chicks. She has been in broody jail for ages I can not have chicks at the moment I let her out for a few days and then she started being broody again

 

[McChooky]

This is why I Don't raise silkies! (they're hard to break!)

 

[BDutch]

You can't. Get an incubator or just wait.

Maybe you can’t, but I can. If I leave 5 (fake) eggs in a nestbox where they usually lay their eggs + its spring or summer, I always had a broody within a week.

I know it depends on the individual chicken whether she will become broody or not. But it always works with some of my bantam chickens.

 

[McChooky]

Maybe you can’t, but I can. If I leave 5 (fake) eggs in a nestbox where they usually lay their eggs + its spring or summer, I always had a broody within a week.

I gather my eggs multiple times a day to discourage it

 

[BDutch]

I gather my eggs multiple times a day to discourage it

Usually I gather the eggs too. Leave 1 fake egg in each of the 2 nests to encourage them to lay there. If I don’t leave a fake egg, they often search for other (inconvenient) places.

But when I have an unwanted broody, I take away the eggs in my two favourite nest boxes and lay a fake egg in a tiny coop in the run. My broodies dont like to switch nest boxes. It makes it easier to quit their ‘wanting chicks’ mood. If I find a broody in a nest box in the afternoon/evening I close the door to the nest-boxes so they can’t sleep there and go to roost. When I am too late (after dark), I pick them up and put them on a roost.

 

[McChooky]

I added a rooster and made an incubator because I need both but 17 hens is plenty (plus a spare rooster) so I won't be letting mine sit on any eggs soon.

 

[McChooky]

Usually I gather the eggs too. Leave 1 fake egg in each of the 2 nests to encourage them to lay there. If I don’t leave a fake egg, they often search for other (inconvenient) places.

But when I have an unwanted broody, I take away the eggs in my two favourite nest boxes and lay a fake egg in a tiny coop in the run. My broodies dont like to switch nest boxes. It makes it easier to quit their ‘wanting chicks’ mood. If I find a broody in a nest box in the afternoon/evening I close the door to the nest-boxes so they can’t sleep there and go to roost. When I am too late (after dark), I pick them up and put them on a roost.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I've noticed someone in my flock always goes broody after a spook. I suppose it has something to do with fearing for their life and the survival of their flock...

 

[McChooky]

That makes

I've noticed someone in my flock always goes broody after a spook. I suppose it has something to do with fearing for their life and the survival of their flock...

That makes a lot of sense