Broody Hen Thread!

[LisaLouHoo]

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, [COLOR=333333]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?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]Thanks for your help.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]RudyElpollo[/COLOR]

Are all your hens only 8 mos old? They might get broody later in life. My first broody last year was 18 mos old. My only broody...so far...this year is 2.5 years old. I did the same thing as you. I got my first pair of silkies in hopes that she would go broody after I got her (she's 8 mos old) and no luck there. She's an egg laying machine though and has cranked out 18 eggs in 22 days. So I have 9 of those in a friend's bator. Just because I want another hen....chicken math, lol.

You're probably not doing anything wrong, btw. It's bound to happen sometime.

 

[luvmypets]

Bb (broody box) is in second time use! Just used an old duck brooder. Works like a charm!

 

[RudyElpollo]

How old are your hens?

 

[luvmypets]

Ours are a little over a year for the broodies.

 

[RudyElpollo]

@LisaLouHoo, I would say they are between 8mo to a year old. The silkie just stared to lay, about 14 days ago.

 

[sonderah]

@LisaLouHoo, I would say they are between 8mo to a year old.  The silkie just stared to lay, about 14 days ago.  

I purchased a Silkie this spring that is 1 1/2 yrs old. Never been broody until 1 month ago. Her past owner was sad he sold her when he found out she'd gone broody right after.

 

[RudyElpollo]

I purchased a Silkie this spring that is 1 1/2 yrs old. Never been broody until 1 month ago. Her past owner was sad he sold her when he found out she'd gone broody right after.

So age does matter?

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

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, [COLOR=333333]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?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]Thanks for your help.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]RudyElpollo[/COLOR]

Try leaving some golf balls in a nest and see if they want to sit on them. One day I just didn't pick up the eggs the next thing I knew I had two Broodies! RIR's are not known for going broody btw. I don't know about the others. Be careful what you wish for. In the last year I went from 5 hens to 9 and I also have 19 chicks in the brooder! I have had to triple the size of my coop and quadrupled the size of my yard!

 

[RudyElpollo]

Try leaving some golf balls in a nest and see if they want to sit on them. One day I just didn't pick up the eggs the next thing I knew I had two Broodies! RIR's are not known for going broody btw. I don't know about the others. Be careful what you wish for. In the last year I went from 5 hens to 9 and I also have 19 chicks in the brooder! I have had to triple the size of my coop and quadrupled the size of my yard!

I am leaving eggs on their nesting boxes, some fertile and others are fake ones, and being the rookie that I am, I may not know what i'm asking for. fingers crossed.

 

[sonderah]

So age does matter?

This was my 1st broody. I was just meaning that I guess sometimes they don't do it too young.