[Bert]

I would like to encourage one or two of my girls to go broody. When is the best time to do this? And is there an average of how long before they will go broody? 3 went broody last year just before they were moved 20 miles up the road. No surprises they stopped being broody and it was a bit late in the season to  persuade them to have another go.
   

[Anke]

Mine only ever make half-hearted attempts at being broody if there are loads of eggs about in the nest boxes. Not sure if warm weather is also needed, only ever happens here in summer.

Maybe you want put a lot of (fake?) eggs in one of the nest boxes and maybe one of them takes the hint?

[Womble]

Just as the lights are always on red the moment you're in a hurry, the best way to encourage all of your hens to go broody is to decide you're never breeding poultry ever again. Bonus points are scored if you don't even have a cockerel.
 
HTH! 

[shygirl]

are we talking hens?

[Victorian Farmer]

When they have laid a certon amount of eggs bert.

[sabrina]

Mine always seen to choose July for some reason.

[Bert]

are we talking hens?

 
Sorry should have said hens. I automatically think everyone knows my girl 

When they have laid a certon amount of eggs bert.

They are mostly black rocks so they haven't ever stopped. Slow down a bit at times, but they are picking up again now.

Maybe you want put a lot of (fake?) eggs in one of the nest boxes and maybe one of them takes the hint?

That's the plan. Hope it works 

[HesterF]

You might be onto a loser with a black rock. My MIL has them and has one that has brooded (and hatched) twice - at her own initiation - but none of the rest have shown any signs. My Orpingtons were all broody at some point last season - the first went broody in February and sat tight while snow was falling around her (I brought her into the house when she was literally covered in snow). The rest were all, sensibly, later. So I would wait until April/May time and then leave a clutch of fake eggs in one of the nest boxes and see if you get any takers. Mine would be piled on top of each other but you'll just have to see with yours.

H

[Victorian Farmer]

I was a black rock agent and youre right they dont go broodey as its been bred out of them .The od one mite just looked it up.