I was thinking of getting a good hen to make a broody hen. What breed would be the best. I raise RIR, EE. and White leghorns. I dont think any of these will brood.
In the April/May edition of Backyard Poultry, Mark Rosen recommends American Game Bantams. Harvey Ussery suggests Old English Games, Silkies, Malay, and Dorking as good choices for hens that might go broody. You are correct. The three breeds you mentioned are not known as broody breeds. Some individuals will occasionally go broody, but it is not a regular occurance.
Game hens, not bantam games but standard games. Silkies and cochins. The reason not bantam games is because on large eggs an OEGB wont be able to sit on but only on a very few eggs.
Also Kraienkoppes. Mine were from Ideal. Friendly and tame, tolerate pens well but also forage well, great mothers, lay a medium beige egg, lay well when they're not broody. I had 3 hens. One hatched and started to raise an Australorp chick. She was killed so one of the others took over the mothering. Then that mother was killed and the last one took over the mothering. There was a list on another thread of good broody breeds, and I think this thread has now listed them all.
In my experience I would say the #1 Silkie Cochins cross #2 Silkies, & #3 OEGBs. My OEGB hen hatched out 15 last summer. All my Silkie Cochin hens are all broody right now. No stopping them Must be the Silkie in them.
