broodies

[sockosickbag]

I need some really broody, medium to large hens. I've had Wyandotte's, welsummer, silkie and light sussex and none of them have ever gone broody....can anyone recommend any?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC!

Where are you sourcing your birds from? Broodiness is something that is less common in hatchery birds as they are bred with the focus on production and broodiness is counter to production. There are lots of breeds that are known for broody tendencies, but the issue is that individual birds are just that - individuals - and, unfortunately, they don't read the poultry books to see that the rules say they are a broody breed.

An alternative would be to invest in an incubator and hatch chicks that way - then you are dependent on the whims of a bird that may or may not be broody at the time you want/need them to be.

 

[sockosickbag]

hi, the birds I've had where from other chicken keepers. I have an incubator but the only one I could afford was a manual and I cant always be there to turn the eggs and I don't really have the room to have a brooder. the only hen that has ever gone broody for me is a light sussex bantam but it can only sit on a few eggs.