Broody hen? RIR Roo x BL Hen

[Elana DeBolt]

My chicken is 21 weeks and 5 days and just laid her first egg yesterday, so she isn't going broody any time soon, but i was hoping over the summer i could get her to go broody. To the people who have had a Road island red rooster crossed with a light brahma hen, do they go broody at all, has anyone had that cross go broody at lest once?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, hope you are enjoying BYC!

To me, I don't care what people say is or isn't common for a specific breed. They are all individuals and will behave as such. So, yes it is possible IMO for any breed to become broody.

Some of my girls (Rocks, Marans) didn't get broody until their second summer while some of my Silkies have been broody by the time they had laid for two weeks and every 3 eggs since then. It's a hormonal thing. And the only thing I thinks influences it on our part is providing good nutrition and a comfortable/safe feeling environment.

Broody's are a special experience... for (adopted, sexed) feed store chicks unless you have plan B of boys. I like to do this because they don't have to sit as long and I get to try other breeds. I also tuck incubator chicks from their eggs under mama hen sometimes, for the same reason but also because I like the control of hatching. Too many other hens trying add eggs to the broody's nest.

When I first started chicken keeping I thought it would be impossible to get a broody. Now I just hope everyday that someone new hasn't become broody! They need to have a rooster around or a big nest of eggs to encourage them. With no rooster and just the egg they laid that day, it will happen. Take their egg, they don't care. Still broody. They will go to another nest with eggs or sit right there and brood her imaginary ones.

Chickens are great fun. And each adventure has its' own challenges. Good luck on your journey and having a great experience!

 

[aart]

My chicken is 21 weeks and 5 days and just laid her first egg yesterday, so she isn't going broody any time soon

I wouldn't count on that...have had 2 pullets this year lay for a week or two then go broody. Luckily they broke pretty easy, one didn't lay for a couple-few more weeks, the other is on 3 weeks and still not laying again. SMH.

Murphy's Law:
You usually get broodies when you don't want them.....
.....and won't get them when you do want them.
I just use an incubator for replacement chicks each year.

 

[sourland]

May she go broody ? Yes. Will she likely go broody ? Probably not. Want a broody - get a silky or cochin.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

May she go broody ? Yes. Will she likely go broody ? Probably not. Want a broody - get a silky or cochin.

Or a Marans..

50% of my ladies have been broody and 1 obsessively so.

My Cochin never went broody. But every single one of my Silkies have so far.

Supposedly buff Orpington as well. Had one that went broody on a hidden nest when she first started laying. She sat for quite a while through some torrential weather before giving up. Never saw her go broody again the following year before she went to her new home. And still have contact with them, so not since then either.

50% of my Swedish Flower hens and 33% of my Barred Rocks also have been broody.

If I get a broody pullet... I absolutely will NOT let them set. I wan't there bodies to be fully developed and filled in before they are facing that challenge. Big difference between my grown ladies and the pullets. And I feel as though the grown ladies are more equipped to handle it both physically and mentally. Just as FYI.

 

[Elana DeBolt]

I would love to get a broody breed, but I'm working with limited resources, I can only work with what i got, maybe I can convince my parents to let me get a silky some time soon.

 

[aart]

I would love to get a broody breed, but I'm working with limited resources, I can only work with what i got, maybe I can convince my parents to let me get a silky some time soon.

If you're working with limited resources,
you probably shouldn't hatch any more birds

 

[Elana DeBolt]

If you're working with limited resources,
you probably shouldn't hatch any more birds

By limited resources I mean I can't just go out and buy a chicken because I'm 15 and don't have a driver's license, so I have to talk my parents into it, plus I have school so.... yeah that's why I'm waiting for the summer, that and because it's too cold for chicks.

 

[Elana DeBolt]

By limited resources I mean I can't just go out and buy a chicken because I'm 15 and don't have a driver's license, so I have to talk my parents into it, plus I have school so.... yeah that's why I'm waiting for the summer, that and because it's too cold for chicks.

I want the hen to be broody so I can get a job over summer while the hen hatches the egg, I spent all last summer incubating and raising chick instead of getting a job like I wanted. Bright side, I got to see all of their different personalities so that was nice.

 

[aart]

By limited resources I mean I can't just go out and buy a chicken because I'm 15 and don't have a driver's license, so I have to talk my parents into it, plus I have school so.... yeah that's why I'm waiting for the summer, that and because it's too cold for chicks.

I meant money to feed and house them.