How do I get my hens to become broody?

Question

I want my hens to get broody so they can have chicks. It's hard to get a broody hen, but I've had one before. It's just a lot easier and cheaper than buying and monitoring and incubator and hand raising the chicks. Is there a way to get them broody? if so, please tell me. Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

the only trick i know,is to like NOT collect the eggs like for a few days.....it might work....im not sure...lol sorry but it might...

Answer 2

Well, I have hens that set and I also bought an incubator. Having an incubator would pay off if your hen got sick and died and left eggs there. Thats why I have a 43 dollar one I got from tracor supply. It can hold 50 eggs at a time.

They will go broody on there own. I had a hen who had layed eggs after eggs. She finally went setting and there were 25 eggs under her. Most hatched. It all is up to her. So just make sure you have a nice nesting box with lots of straw/shavings in it. Also after she goes setting monitor the eggs by candling them on day 5-8 you should see veins and a baby. Make sure you throw out the bad ones, if you dont then the flys will lay there larva on them and eat it. Trust me that has happened and I cleaned out the nesting box and she hoped back in the box.

Answer 3

They have to lay eggs until they ''lay out"  or stop laying  eggs.  When that happens, they will sit on the eggs, ie - brood them.  The eggs come in cycles of around 15 - 20 eggs, 1 each day.  Then the hen sets for another cycle of about that long to hatch them.