Broody breeds?

[Rowzy]

I really want to hatch some eggs this summer but I am afraid to use an incubator; they seem too fiddly and sensitive for me, especially if I can get a hen to do most of the work for me

. I know most of the hens I have right now aren't good broody breeds except for my silkie hen, but she hasnt even started laying yet (10 months old... lazy girl). I was thinking of getting 1 or 2 more hens that are broody breeds (or even more, my coop is almost 100 sq. ft. so I can have a lot more then 9 chickens). What are some really reliable broody breeds? Which ones are your favorite broodies?

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

I have Silkies, Bantam Cochins, and Buff Orpingtons that have all gone broody on me. Unfortunately, I didn't have fertile eggs for the others, but one of the Buff Orpingtons hatched a couple of eggs and was a very good Mama. I hope this helps!

Genie

 

[aussieheelr]

My banty cochin just finished her first set. She hatched 3 out of 4 and she's not even a year old yet! she'll be a year in late April

My BO is coming up on a year and she hasn't gone broody yet. I've heard most banties like to brood.

 

[cwc362]

Quote:
Off topic a little but -- We have 4 generations living here too. my 93 year old grandmother, my soon to be 68 year old mother, Me ( almost 48) my kids- ages 17, 13, and 10.!!!

 

[Eggs4Sale]

I have two Black Stars that have gone broody. One finally got to hatch. But we have 7 hens, and only 2 go broody.

We also have a Buff Rock that went broody for 2 months.

Henderson's breed chart has a lot of info on which breeds are known for broodiness. http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[boxermom]

I have a BO sitting on 12 eggs now. She is about 9 mo. This is her first time broody.

 

[wjallen05]

I have two Silkie hens that are 11 months old. They have both just gone broody. One is sitting on 2 eggs and the other is sitting on 5 eggs. I have always read/heard that Silkies and Game hens are the broodiest of breeds. I have a game pullet but she is only 2 months old.

 

[Rowzy]

I am thinking of getting a BO and another silkie or two. I am hoping that I can find some young hens around here, it seems to be hit and miss half the time. None of the feed stores sell chicks regularly either...