Broody Hen Thread!

[chickenboy190]

Hi! I was just wondering about my chickens. What would be the chances that they will go broody? Here are the breeds.

4 Easter Eggers
4 ISA Browns I know that they will probably not go broody.
3 Black Austulorps
2 Silver Laced Wyandottes

 

[fisherlady]

Hi! I was just wondering about my chickens. What would be the chances that they will go broody? Here are the breeds.

4 Easter Eggers
4 ISA Browns I know that they will probably not go broody.
3 Black Austulorps
2 Silver Laced Wyandottes

Breed info is listed on the site here.... just go up to the header, click on the button for 'Breeds' , the page it brings up has multiple ways to search for breed info. You can mark of the traits you want on the left and it narrows down breeds you may want to look at... or if you want to look up characteristics of a breed you have you can search it alphabetically and then go direct to that breeds page. It will have some basic info at the top of the page (reviews) and near the bottom of the page is more specific info, with a chart that indicates broody tendencies.

 

[chickenboy190]

Breed info is listed on the site here.... just go up to the header, click on the button for 'Breeds' , the page it brings up has multiple ways to search for breed info. You can mark of the traits you want on the left and it narrows down breeds you may want to look at... or if you want to look up characteristics of a breed you have you can search it alphabetically and then go direct to that breeds page. It will have some basic info at the top of the page (reviews) and near the bottom of the page is more specific info, with a chart that indicates broody tendencies.

Yes, I have done that I was seeing that my Austulorps are good mothers and all. I have also seen that SLWs seem to be good also.

 

[foreverlearning]

Yes, I have done that I was seeing that my Austulorps are good mothers and all. I have also seen that SLWs seem to be good also.

Going broody for the most part is based on the breed, but being a good mother is on the hen/pullet herself. Silkies are very well known for being often broodies and good mothers yet I have seen one that sucks at mothering. If one of yours goes broody watch them and see if you like both their brooding and mothering skills. If you do, try not to discourage them for any reason.

 

[fisherlady]

Yes, I have done that I was seeing that my Austulorps are good mothers and all. I have also seen that SLWs seem to be good also.

The thing bout chickens is that they can't read... so they don't know they aren't supposed to be broody types, or are supposed to be.... so in general, you have a bit better chances with some breeds, but there are no set in stone rules that the breeds follow. Even if you have a bird of a breed which is known to be broody, it may not be, and vise versa. 'Easter eggers' are basically mutts (having been bred from a mix of breeds with the intent to develop egg colors) so EEs may have a lot of broody stock in their background or very little, depending on the breeds used in the hatchery's mix.

A few I know of which seem to be represented here quite often are silkie, cochin (especially Banty ones) and Old English Game fowl hens, Black Australorp have been a common hen on this thread also. Good luck with your birds, hopefully you will get a few broodies of your own.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well...glebreton....?????

Hoping no news is still good news.

Curious
Lady of McCamley

 

[mstarr]

Here is a picture of my Ameraucana, Sadie, who went broody twice last year and is broody again. I love her to pieces, she is such a good momma. Last year, she hatched some chicks in the middle of winter and they were very healthy little fellas, more so than the chicks I hatched in the incubator. This winter has been a cold one in NE Ohio, but I have confidence in Sadie. I put some Bourbon Red turkey eggs under her about a week ago and she is happy as can be. We'll see what happens...

 

[fisherlady]

Here is a picture of my Ameraucana, Sadie, who went broody twice last year and is broody again. I love her to pieces, she is such a good momma. Last year, she hatched some chicks in the middle of winter and they were very healthy little fellas, more so than the chicks I hatched in the incubator. This winter has been a cold one in NE Ohio, but I have confidence in Sadie. I put some Bourbon Red turkey eggs under her about a week ago and she is happy as can be. We'll see what happens...

Good luck with her and the chicks! Determined broodies are a joy to watch doing their jobs. We fish out of Conneaut and camp in western Erie County, Pa.... so I am familiar with NE Ohio and it's weather... hope you get a break when the chicks are due, though I'm sure she'll have no trouble keeping them in good shape.

 

[glebreton]

Worked late last night and came home to no chicks. Starting day 22 with 4 eggs still under her.I guess if they don't hatch by morning I will pull them on day 23. Poor lil girl worked hard too!

 

[chickenboy190]

Going broody for the most part is based on the breed, but being a good mother is on the hen/pullet herself. Silkies are very well known for being often broodies and good mothers yet I have seen one that sucks at mothering. If one of yours goes broody watch them and see if you like both their brooding and mothering skills. If you do, try not to discourage them for any reason.

Yeah. I was going to get 2 silkies but I didn't get them so I am getting a BO roo this spring because my BR roo died a while back. Yeah I'm hoping that they will be good mothers if they go broody and such.