Who will take the bait?

[WingItRanch]

Sorry to butt in but I wanted some clarification...

You put a nest full of golf balls to encourage a hen to go broody? So if I want a broody hen next year, I can try to jump-start their hormones by leaving a bunch of fake eggs in a nest box and then (if it works), replace them with fertlized eggs??

Or was the purpose of the golf ball nest to encourage an already broody hen to choose the nest you wanted her to choose?

 

[Ridgerunner]

A few times I've added a golf ball (or a real marked egg) a day to a nest until I had a dozen eggs, then left them there for a couple of weeks to try to encourage a hen to go broody. I had a few hens in my flock that had gone broody before but I was trying to encourage them earlier in the season than normal. One time I had a hen go broody, but that was in a different nest so I don't think that counted.

Another time I was gone for a week visiting grandkids and the chicken sitter did not gather any eggs. When I got back I had two hens broody. I think the eggs piling up encouraged them but they may have been ready to go broody anyway. With living animals you never know.

From reading on this forum, some people believe letting the eggs stack up will help kickstart a broody. Others are not so sure. I'm of the opinion that it can help but don't bet the ranch on it.

When I have a broody hen I usually leave a couple of golf balls under her to encourage her to stay broody while I gather the eggs I want her to hatch so I can start then all at the same time. I don't think that is totally necessary but I also think one or two is enough. But that is just my opinion, no scientific evidence to back it up. I don't see that it hurts anything and it might help.

 

[WingItRanch]

A few times I've added a golf ball (or a real marked egg) a day to a nest until I had a dozen eggs, then left them there for a couple of weeks to try to encourage a hen to go broody. I had a few hens in my flock that had gone broody before but I was trying to encourage them earlier in the season than normal. One time I had a hen go broody, but that was in a different nest so I don't think that counted.

Another time I was gone for a week visiting grandkids and the chicken sitter did not gather any eggs. When I got back I had two hens broody. I think the eggs piling up encouraged them but they may have been ready to go broody anyway. With living animals you never know.

From reading on this forum, some people believe letting the eggs stack up will help kickstart a broody. Others are not so sure. I'm of the opinion that it can help but don't bet the ranch on it.

When I have a broody hen I usually leave a couple of golf balls under her to encourage her to stay broody while I gather the eggs I want her to hatch so I can start then all at the same time. I don't think that is totally necessary but I also think one or two is enough. But that is just my opinion, no scientific evidence to back it up. I don't see that it hurts anything and it might help.

Interesting! Thanks. I've never had a broody and was hoping for one this spring but it didn't happen so I ended up brooding chicks. Still have only hens and pullets. My goal is to get a nice rooster. I know there's no guarantees but I'm hoping to get a broody so I can stick hatching eggs (or straight run chicks) under her and have the flock raise some cockerels.

I'll try this method next year and see what happens!