Best broody hen?

[risingeaglefarm]

So I want to cut electricity expenses, and I'm opting for getting a broody hen to replace my incubator and brooder. What's the best bird for hatching and caring for chicks? Preferably one that will be able to take care of other species, like ducks

 

[QueenMisha]

Silkies, Cochins, and Brahmas can all be expected to brood multiple times per year and make excellent mothers. Most of my oriental gamefowl (Shamo especially) brood 4-8 times per year and are amazing mommies, but the cost to buy a Shamo or other oriental gamefowl is almost as expensive as the cost of an incubator. Can't beat them for a broody though.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Silkies, Cochins, and Brahmas can all be expected to brood multiple times per year and make excellent mothers. Most of my oriental gamefowl (Shamo especially) brood 4-8 times per year and are amazing mommies, but the cost to buy a Shamo or other oriental gamefowl is almost as expensive as the cost of an incubator. Can't beat them for a broody though.

Bantams are great broods and mommas too, but they have a smaller quantity and I don't know about other species...lol

 

[JaeG]

My Mum's large breed silver laced wyandotte is broody more than she is not. Same goes for my bantam wyandottes - and they are a larger bantam (mine are anyway). Australorps are supposed to be very broody too.

Having just hatched bantam eggs under two broody Old English Game Bantams it's so easy! They did stuff you'd never dream of doing if using an incubator (like getting off pipped eggs to have a toilet break or snack, and rearranging the eggs right up until they are hatched - this includes pipping eggs!). We've just given one of our bantam wyandottes some eggs too - she's only just over a year old and this is probably her 6th bout of broodiness. It's nice to be able to indulge her!

 

[DancingWthDucks]

I would opt for LF silkie because they go broody at the drop of a hat and are great mothers. They can also brood more eggs at a time than bantams.

 

[risingeaglefarm]

Thanks for the tips everyone-I'll pick out some of the breeds you suggested on Thursday

 

[rainorix]

I have three astrolorps about a year and a half old there not broody at all nor will they every lay in the same place its annoying but kinda funny i got some game hens to see if they would set but nothing in two months i even built six brood boxes for them