The first couple days we made sure she would go back on her nest and she did the rest. If you want a broody hen, not all breeds are created equal. She hatched6 out of 7 eggs this past weekend. The first step in using a broody hen to hatch and raise chicks is, of course, to have a broody. I'm afraid if I move her she won't want to sit on eggs any more. So exciting. In general, a broody prefers a dark, private, comfortable location in which to set. I have a wire dog cage I could maybe put her in, but should I put the cage in the coop or not? I have another hen sitting on 15 eggs. This can be caused simply by your hen getting older and maturing, or simply by the days getting longer- the increasing length of the day encourages the body to release prolactin (hormone) from the pituitary gland of the hen.. She would get off every other day to eat drink and poop then go back on her nest. I'm pretty shore she is broody, so how do I care for this little broody hen? Let’s take a look at how to spot a broody hen and want you can do to stop her being broody. The instinct for hens to sit on top of eggs is known as "being broody." What Is a Broody Hen? Her chosen spot can range from a nest box inside the coop to a hidden location away from the coop. In order for eggs to hatch, they must be kept warm by either a sitting hen or an incubator. A ‘broody’ hen is a hen that wants to hatch its own eggs.. Unlike when chicks are ordered from a hatchery, baby chicks, who are hatched naturally under a broody hen, don't need a lot of care.The mother hen provides the heat, so a heat lamp won't be needed, and she will also show the chicks how to eat and drink. The combination of the prolactin and sunlight make her broody and she will sit on the recent eggs she has laid. HOW TO IDENTIFY A BROODY HEN. She plucks her own breast feathers to expose the warmth and moisture of her skin directly to the eggs (hence the expression “to feather one’s nest”). Also, a broody hen will stop laying eggs when she goes broody, and won't start up again, possibly for several months - the 21 days it takes for eggs to hatch plus the time she would spend caring for her new chicks - so it's in BOTH your best interests to break them as quickly as possible. A broody hen is a hen which wants their eggs to hatch. We have a hen that went broody so we decided to put eggs and try. She will sit on top of her eggs (and others which she’s stolen) all day long in attempt to hatch them. this is my first broody so I'm pretty excited. We gonna try again. Of the most popular breeds, Silkies and cochins are the most broody breeds, followed by brahmas and orpingtons. And any other tips on caring for a broody hen will be appreciated. How to Get Your Hen to Become Broody.