Even hatchery birds of some breeds are pretty broody, maybe not every bird, but I had several Orpingtons go broody in a single order. Even a brown leghorn hatched a stolen nest once!
In that case, I fully support your leghorn rooster idea--Leghorn roosters are the best, in my somewhat limited experience (I've had a lot of chickens, but only about eight breeds of rooster, mostly crosses).
A factor to consider when getting a rooster:
Roosters mature faster than hens. A young cockerel often will terrify your young pullets before they figure out what's what. To that end, I prefer more mature and lighter (weight-wise) roosters.
Because of this, free, older roosters may be your friend. You know how they'll behave when they mature, for a start. And you can get them when it's convenient for you, because (In my experience), there are always free roosters in every area, at every time.
If you don't want feathered legs, buff orpingtons are notorious broodies. However, if you want to be certain that you'll get a broody, you may want to locate some game birds. Or a silkie. I know--feathered legs. (I don't think they're pretty birds either. But they are sweet, and they make great mothers.)
My favorite clean-legged breeds are Australorps, Wyandottes, and Easter Eggers. I've wanted a Buff Orpington for the longest time, but I have no personal experience. Leghorns are great layers, but they almost never go broody. And the hens can be ridiculously flighty.
And that rooster is a Silver-Duckwing Old English Game Bantam, and the father of my current breeding project. Despite the fact that he's my favorite (and only show-quality) rooster, he has no name.
Nope hatchery stock, however I have a lead on someone I found on the Livestock Conservancy website(https://livestockconservancy.org/) who is just over an hour away from me. I have their details and will be following up on that lead for pullets I am in need of. The 2 pullets I do have are still at the 3.5 month stage of rearing but by next March I imagine we will see if it has been bred out of them.
Nope hatchery stock, however I have a lead on someone I found on the Livestock Conservancy website(https://livestockconservancy.org/) who is just over an hour away from me. I have their details and will be following up on that lead for pullets I am in need of. The 2 pullets I do have are still at the 3.5 month stage of rearing but by next March I imagine we will see if it has been bred out of them.
I know there is a big difference between hatchery and breeder heritage with Australorps. I have had broody australorps from a breeder but not from a hatchery
I know there is a big difference between hatchery and breeder heritage with Australorps. I have had broody australorps from a breeder but not from a hatchery
I seriously doubt these can deviate from any Sumatra line very much without a serious outcrossing. They have the flightyness of a Sumatra the lines of a sumatra, waddles, combs, saddles, sickles..........and personalities.
Edit-forgot to mention the yellow skin and soles of their feet, and great looking brown eyes.
Clean-legged Roosters with which I have experience:
Old English (bantam): Beautiful, but a tendency to fight everything that moves. Have a tendency to attack the neighbor. Luckily, he finds their puny selves amusing.
RIRs: Chester was my baby for the longest time (six years, RIP) but I would never recommend an RIR rooster. They want to kill you.
Leghorns: Marvelous, marvelous gentlemen. Protective and chivalric without being attack-dogs. Sweethearts without being clingy.
Easter Eggers: I've had crosses. They seem nice, and the colors can be stunning.
Barred-Rocks: A little lacking in personality. Seem pleasant enough.
Game roosters (Large Fowl): Utter A**-holes.
Hens with which I have experience:
Silkies: Bottom of the pecking order. Morons. Somewhat distant, but friendly.
Game (LF): Flighty and aggressive. Remains to be seen whether she'll go broody.
Leghorns: Flighty. Extremely flighty. High in the pecking order when older, lower when young.
Cochins (bantam): Amazing creatures with mothering instincts extraordinaire.
Easter Eggers: Nice hens. Lower in the pecking order. Mine are great mothers. One was very flighty, but the others are nice.
Wyandotte (crosses): Sweet.
Barred-rocks: Flighty in general, and somewhat aggressive. Can make good mothers.
Australorps: Beautiful and fluffy and very, very loud when they've just laid an egg.
Rhode Island red: Bags of personality. Tend to take over the coop. Good layers.
Game (Bantam): A lot of personality, and tend to be very good mothers, though I've met exceptions.
EE/wyandotte cross with assorted chicks (nine, in fact, and all but three were roosters. Arggh!)
We are glad you joined our flock.
