The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: suziequeue on March 06, 2012, 01:38:20 pm

Title: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: suziequeue on March 06, 2012, 01:38:20 pm

Through this forum I have found someone nearby who can sell me cuckoo maran eggs to hatch under one of my hen's hot bots. :thumbsup:

So - THANKYOU TAS!!!  :bouquet: :bouquet: :love:

Now - does anybody have any advice as to how I can get one of the spekledys to go broody so she'll sit on the eggs?

One of them went broody of her own accord last November. Now the spring is springing and the sap is rising I am thinking that this is probably a better time of year to start again.

Any suggestions please?

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: OhLaLa on March 06, 2012, 01:53:42 pm

You can't make a hen go broody.

 :farmer: :chook:

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: Big Light on March 06, 2012, 02:06:25 pm

buy some silkies or silkie crosses!

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: deepinthewoods on March 06, 2012, 02:34:00 pm

ive found that mine have gone broody when ive forgotten to collect the eggs for a few days, maybe leave a dozen eggs somewhere safe and dark and covered and see if that sets them off.

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: landroverroy on March 06, 2012, 02:42:08 pm

 Yes, I would second that. Whenever, for whatever reason , a few eggs have been left in the next box, I've nearly always found a hen sitting tight  on them a few days later.

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: in the hills on March 06, 2012, 05:19:17 pm

Yes, you could mark some eggs with a cross and leave them in the nest box or you can get rubber eggs and do the same.

We used our pekin hens as broodies last year. They tend to be broody very frequently and sit tight so are easy to move to somewhere suitable for sitting.

Good luck.

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: colliewoman on March 06, 2012, 07:36:59 pm

Yes, pick a chicken and decide that you really really reaaallllly need the eggs off of that particular hen.
She will then stop laying eggs instantly and go broody ;D ;D

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: Rosie posie on March 06, 2012, 08:21:30 pm

always the same, lots of broodies when you don't want one, and rarely when you do :D

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: Sylvia on March 07, 2012, 09:02:49 am

Silkies are the best bet, they'll go broody if there is more than one egg in the nest-box. ::)

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: suziequeue on March 07, 2012, 09:40:24 pm

Thanks for all the tips.

I'm going to set up the broody coop all cosy, put a few eggs in a little nest there, leave the drop door open and see who gets curious :-))

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: OhLaLa on March 08, 2012, 01:52:00 pm

Quote from: suziequeue on March 07, 2012, 09:40:24 pm

.....I'm going to set up the broody coop all cosy, put a few eggs in a little nest there, leave the drop door open and see who gets curious :-))

Worth a try, but it will be rats probably.   :(

The Silkie idea is best if you want a hen that is prone to being broody. Otherwise it's pot luck and most likely to happen when the weather is warmer than it is now (and when you don't want one anymore).  :chook:

Title: Re: How to get a hen to go broody
Post by: kaz on March 08, 2012, 05:57:02 pm

I've got two silkies sitting on eggs at moment, one has two chicks and another dozen eggs and the other has about 10 eggs.
Last year I had three lots of chicks from three different silkies.They seem to go broody as easy as anything and make lovely Mums, you can't beat them for that.