Best breeds for broody hens?

[Barbara Drury]

Unfortunately I live in a hot weather area and my flock free ranges so I’m afraid neither would make it very long here.

My Olive Eggers are broody. I have one sitting on 14 eggs right now

 

[Artichoke Lover]

So I’ve decided not to order chicks right now. I might place an order for September or October. But right now the earliest I can get chicks is is late June or July and it will be to hot for me to feel comfortable having chicks shipped especially with how everything has been with usps the past few months. I will update when I get chicks though!

 

[Oncoming Storm]

I've heard that Naked Necks make great moms, but I'm not sure how often they tend to go broody.

I currently have a broody NN that I didn’t realize went broody and managed to amass a clutch of like twelve. She’s sticking to it though. Very dedicated.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Game fowl hens of any variety are great at setting, raising and especially protecting chicks.

Really? I didn’t know that. How long does a hen get off her eggs to eat/drink/walk around?

 

[LapisLazuli]

Last summer I had a Black Star chicken go broody

 

[NatJ]

How long does a hen get off her eggs to eat/drink/walk around?

It varies depending on the hen, but I've seen once or twice a day, sometimes only a very few minutes, sometimes longer. I've seen some hens that will take a dust bath and sit in the sun to preen on a hot day, but eat fast and go back to the eggs on cooler days. And sometimes I don't see the hen off the nest at all, but I find a big fresh poop, and I can see that some food has been eaten, and I can feel food in the hen's crop. So I know that she was off when I wasn't looking. I think some of them prefer to do their eating when no-one is there to notice.

 

[Macnutt]

I’m looking at adding to my flock and one of my main goals is to add some breeds that will go broody. I am not interested in either Cochins or Silkies. Neither would do well with my climate. I’ve heard Orpingtons are good but at the same time the only person I know who keeps them has 2 that are over 10 years old still lay and have never gone broody!

My two mottled Javas and my mosaic hens are broody champs, followed by my Buff Orps.

 

[Ilovechickens07]

My silkie/orpington mix is almost always broody

 

[VeryHappyHens]

I’m looking at adding to my flock and one of my main goals is to add some breeds that will go broody. I am not interested in either Cochins or Silkies. Neither would do well with my climate. I’ve heard Orpingtons are good but at the same time the only person I know who keeps them has 2 that are over 10 years old still lay and have never gone broody!

I do not own silkie and im new to owing orpingtons there lavender orpingtons. But in my experience I know its different from other but RIR go broody I had 1 last year and 2 this year. RIR are fierce mothers my RIR Frappcino didn't leave her chicks till 11 weeks I bet if she was a different breed she would probably leave her chicks early but boy was she was fierce at protecting them. Here is a picture. Here are some pictures when they were chicks and older.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I’m looking at adding to my flock and one of my main goals is to add some breeds that will go broody. I am not interested in either Cochins or Silkies. Neither would do well with my climate. I’ve heard Orpingtons are good but at the same time the only person I know who keeps them has 2 that are over 10 years old still lay and have never gone broody!

Thanks for the topic! We are in the same boat - hot, humid summers, occasional cold snaps in the winter and free ranging. We also do not want feathered feet due to the current flock preferring the clean shaven look. I have 2 olive eggers who should have lightly feathered legs, but someone keeps the feathers pulled before they get a chance to grow out. (I haven't caught anyone pulling leg feathers, so they may be doing it themselves). And no more white/ very light colored birds since we just lost Opal (avatar hen) to a hawk 2 weeks ago
Our April order will be including a Dorking and a Speckled Sussex. Hopefully one of them will go broody next year!