How to make a Chook go broody?

[di]

Going back to the question about chick crumb being seasonal...isn't there a cut of point in Summer when it's desirable to have a broody?To do with the chicks being outdoor from early on but not feathering up enough by the time the weather turns cooler?
I may well be very wrong,but sure I read it somewhere?

Good Luck with the persuading RT!

[RedThorn]

Point taken there and I will have to think of a way around it they are due to hatch in the 3rd weekend in September.....hmmmm will have to think on it! thanks Di

[RichmondHens]

RT - I feed mine straight wheat but mixed corn will be fine too. You will be able to get chick crumb and grower pellets - they after all are available year round for the commercial breeders.
If you don't get a broody hen in time, I recommend an electric hen - a sort of head pad on legs. Doesn't have a light so chicks wake, feed and sleep on a natural cycle.

[HayleyB]

You could try giving her a few parenting magazines to read, or a few chick flicks on the dvd perhaps

[RedThorn]

Thanks RH will look at that.

Hayley.... pun intended in the "chick" flick?

[HayleyB]

Moi??????

[RedThorn]

The nesting box if rather large, they tend to lay in 2 distinct depressions/nests should I also put 5 eggs in the other "nest"?

[Hashette]

Is it just me that's paranoid about getting the eggs out as soon as they lay in case anyone gets a taste for them?

[RedThorn]

nope ... but I'm lucky in as much as I've not had it happen yet so I thought I'd give it a go. My eggs often are only collected in the late afternoon when I get home (sometime after 5:30)

[Nicos]

Is it just me that's paranoid about getting the eggs out as soon as they lay in case anyone gets a taste for them?

That's my excuse for nipping out and checking on them every few minutes!!!

[RedThorn]

an update, the 5 " I can't Remember"'s are Amberlinks so that's 5 black rocks and 5 amberlinks

Checked nest box tonight and the girl who always insists on sleeping in the nest box has finally decided to use the roosting bar

[frias]

You learn something new everyday here. I had no idea you could encourage a hen to go broody. I've spent the last year trying to stop one of mine.

[RedThorn]

I'm experimenting albeit bit late in the season! I read about it... will see if it's true. As three of my girls are less than a year old, I don't expect it to be them which leave's my ex-batts so we'll see!

[lettucegrow!]

How exciting, babies!!! Where did you get the eggs from? I'm dead jealous now I was googling hen breeds with my sister after our Dad was telling us about the Plymouth rocks he used to keep. I've fallen for the partridge colour ones, they are lovely. On a search now for an egg supplier.

[bluemoon]

How exciting, babies!!! Where did you get the eggs from? I'm dead jealous now I was googling hen breeds with my sister after our Dad was telling us about the Plymouth rocks he used to keep. I've fallen for the partridge colour ones, they are lovely. On a search now for an egg supplier.

Lettuce, step away from the computer. Do NOT google hen breeds or hatching egg suppliers it is FATAL! If one of mine ever goes broody she'll be sat on a heap of all sorts of weird and wonderful eggs quicker than she can blink. Then some of them will be cockerels I can't bear to 'deal' with and I'll have far too many chickens for my plot and I'll not want to part with any because no-one will be good enough to take 'my' babies and......