Well, I'm new in having chickens and I've had hens now for about 8 months. I've been hoping that one of my hens would become broody, but no, not a one. I even purchased a Silkie in hopes that, that one would become broody, and again nothing. I have 6 hens, a Silkie, a black star, wyandotte, welsummer, Blue Orpington, and a Road Island Red. I think I'm losing my hope it all this Broody stuff. Do you guys think I'm doing something wrong?
Thanks for your help.
RudyElpollo
You can't create a broody hen, but you can encourage a bird that is predisposed to being broody because of her genetics to do so.
Broodiness can hit from they moment they begin to lay or later in life. Some go broody only once their whole lives, others seasonally, others annoyingly frequently. Some breeds are better known for having the predisposition to brood, but it always boils down to the individual hen.
In my flock I've had broodies at 8 months and at 1 1/2 years. I've had mutts go broody, a buff orpington, 2 black stars, Welsummers, but never my RIR's or Red Stars. And of course my beloved Silkie.
When I first decided I wanted to naturally broody, and because my Orpington didn't go broody again, I purposely located and purchased a proven Silkie momma, and she is my faithful brooder...every 3 to 4 months she broods. Therefore, she is the backbone of my hatching program. I use whoever else is eager and available. This year, the gals that brooded last year haven't brooded this year, but several new pullets (8 months) have.
All that to say, unless you purchase a known momma, it is hard to know if a bird will go broody at all; either way, you can't know when she will do it.
You can however encourage the hormones to kick in by leaving eggs in the nest (the feeling of fullness triggers a spot on their breast that releases hormones), keeping the nest area warm and dark (again helps trigger hormones), and keeping the area calm and quiet (preventing distraction and disruption).
Good luck!
Lady of McCamley
