All this talk about broody hens and none of mine have ever been broody

[Kittymomma]

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My 11 month old EE Ella went broody last week, so far she's doing a great job.

 

[cybercat]

Well, I can say that my partridge rocks live up to their reputation as good for broodies. I have one that has been sitting for weeks now. Many of the non popular colors in rock and wyandottes will go broody as it has not been bred out of them The popular color you have to be more careful with as there are some production lines in those colors. Best way to avoid them is go to the small hatcheries orbuy from the preservation breeders, not show breeders. Show lines will have that bred out too. You best bet is to find chicks hatched and raised by a hen. Most likly to go broody then.

 

[Happy Chooks]

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You wouldn't want to leave eggs there, there is no way to make a hen broody. It would be more likely that they would somehow break one of the eggs, taste it and like what they taste. Then you would have one or more egg eaters.

Good advice. I have a supposedly broody breed, brahmas. Ain't seen hide nor hair of a broody, so don't feel like the lone ranger.

Me either. I keep hoping my brahma will go broody, but nope. The little princess couldn't possibly cooperate.

 

[neuchicontheblock]

I am confused as well in relation to broodiness. My questions are:

1. I have banties of all kinds and some sit and cover but then get up and lose interest. I collect those. The roo is so busy doing the 'do that he's dizzy.

2. There are 3 full size Americauna's that lay the prettiest egg and two sit and cover, but then get up and lose interest. Their poops are HUGE, and I was told here that those huge poops indicate broodiness. And that roo is doing it so much that he's starving.

3. Why do some chickens never get mounted by the roo and don't lay eggs?

4. I have a banty hen that lays eggs daily and she talks constantly. Sometimes she sounds like she's laughing, other times she's scolding, but she's sitting right in the nest box. She cracks me up but she is LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!

Otherwise,I love my chickens...

 

[NellaBean]

Well I have two white leghorn mix pullets who are broody. Go figure. White leghorn x Black Jersey Giant. Doesn't seem like a broody cross right?

Apparently not. They just started laying a couple months ago and 1 went super broody about a week ago, and one of her sisters has jumped in to help now too.

I also have 3 broody cochins. had 4 but I broke 1 who wasn't doing a very good job....she is out and about and seems back to normal. 1 cochin is sitting on wooden eggs....LOL...might slip her some chicks soon.

 

[cybercat]

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1. This happens when the chickens get distubed too much. Most move broodies to a secluded area so they will not be bothered by other chickens.
2.Do not go by poops. A chicken that has been roosting all night can have huge poops too.
3. Possible males and you will not always see them get mounted. Also they might be laying but not often.

A broody hen will not leave the nest except once a day to eat and drink. Mine sits with eggs or with no eggs. But she leaves in the morning with everyone to go out to eat and drink then goes back to her nest. We were pulling all eggs out from under her and yes she would growl a bit and peck once or twice but has stopped that even. A good broody will not leave a nest for over 20 days.

 

[peeps7]

I just had a leghorn hen go broody, unfortunatly she went broody out in the woods

..... so I had to move her and she freaked out, lol. It just depends on what the girls want to do, if they decide they want babies they'll sit