why isn't my hen going broody?

[mycountrycabin]

i have 3 hens laying in 1 box an none of them will go broody why?

 

[ncgnance]

You can't MAKE a hen go broody. Its just something she decides to do. It doesn't matter how many hens you have on a nest. What kind of chickens do you have? Some chickens don't go broody anymore. It has been sort of bred out of them.

 

[mycountrycabin]

i have a barred rock,buff orpington,and a EE

 

[MRNpoultry]

I had 12 eggs in a nest box and none of my hens went broody. I think buff orpingtons go broody.

 

[raindrop]

Some buff orpingtons go broody. I had 4, only 2 ever went broody. Some Barred rocks go broody, but not as many as the orpingtons.

 

[championny]

I've learned they will brood when they're ready. The only suggestion I can offer is to make sure there are plenty of eggs (even if you have to mix a few fakes) and if they are ready, they'll brood. Then you can remove the fake ones when she's feeding. Other than that, its up to anyone's game.

Good Luck.

 

[speckledhen]

Of my flock of 21 hens, only 1 has ever gone broody. I have Buff Orpingtons, Blue Orps, Barred Rocks, RIRs, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Ameraucanas, and three that are Cochin/Silkie x Barred Rock! So, it is not a given that they will brood, even if the breed is considered broody.