Broody Banty

[Sdominique]

Do hens lose the "desire" to hatch chicks as they get older? I have a little black hen that is 5 years old. Ever since she was a year old she has always tried hatching 2 to 3 clutches a year, usually starting to go broody in late February or early March. I noticed last year she didn't show any interest until May and this year she hasn't offered to set any at all. She's always been my " go to girl" to raise new chicks. I have an incubator. I'm wondering if I should just start using it from now on????

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Older hens can lose the interest since being broody is hormone driven. Older hens often stop laying, and they won't go broody without first laying some eggs.