Last year I ordered eggs, put them under a hen that had been setting a week, had them turn out all blank, put some random eggs under her after 23 days which she hatched and raised, this after hatching and raising a brood earlier in the season. She was an asil. Because asils almost have to be hen raised, they have been selected for their broodiness. None of that "sulking" you describe, not real brooding, just being aggravating. I think some of the wannabe broody hens I have had in my egg layers were just lazy and wanted to sleep in a nest box instead of on a roost pole. Some definitely have it, and some don't. I like dependable broodiness if they are going to do it at all.
Yes indeed....so true.
I agree. If you want reliable broodies, those that will sit the 3 weeks and even 3 more if the first for some reason fails, and do it again season after season, go to a game or Silkie, and even many bantam Cochins.
My layer types have all been selected for decades to lay well...which means broodiness has been deselected out of them. You can get a commercial layer breed that goes broody, but often they sulk, playing at it, rather than brooding....or brood partially but then poorly mother.
Some of the large fowl heritage breeds have been carefully bred so that some lines are very good at brooding again...my Marans turn out to be that way...they have been overall beautiful and broody birds.
But some have too much commercial blood in them yet, which makes for fickle brooders....and perhaps those are the ones many complain of not having the stamina to brood well.
I've heard Asils are excellent broodies, which amazes me a bit as they are not fluffy like my Silkies or bantam Cochins (who resemble a mop). I know the games are closer to the original jungle fowl, so they have strong brooding (and flying) instincts. I have only had a few game types. I really enjoyed them...lost them as they always managed to get themselves into trouble flying over stuff or getting into stuff.
LofMc
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