anybody know a broody breed of hens?

[WORNER]

im wanting the broodiest hen available. any suggestions?

 

[CMV]

Silkies and cochins are the broodiest available. Good luck and happy hatching.

 

[sourland]

Silkies and cochins.

 

[WORNER]

thanks for your help but are silkies and cochins strictly ornamental chickens or will they lay regularly like a leghorn would?

 

[PepsNick]

Silkies, Cochins and 'brahmas'.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Silkies and cochins is what I have read about here on BYC over and over.

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
They are dual purpose. They lay everyday like ALL chickens, but that is not their 'specialty' like it is for leghorns.

 

[NoseyChickens]

They lay pretty well ........when they aren't taking a break to try and hatch an egg.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Quote:
You won't find broody breeds that are GREAT layers. Birds don't lay when they are broody, so by default they are relatively poor layers.

Many heritage breeds lay well, and can go broody on occasion, but not as persistently as cochins and silkies.

A lot of us keep a few bantam cochins and silkies around just have some broodies, then have the egg machines for lots of eggs. It's nice to use the bantam breeds for broodies, as they're smaller, but can still cover a good number of eggs. And they eat less all year long.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Orpingtons are generally good layers that have a tendency to go broody. I've also seen in it my Wyandottes and Marans. (I've had leghorns and barred rocks go broody too, but I wouldn't count on it)