Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

You may luck into a larger silkie hen or two, seems to be quite a range of sizes, my mid sized silkie hatched 8 large fowl eggs in January for me...so definitely an option.

I have had great luck with my line of Silver Pencil Rocks, (Horstman Line) but I don't know how hatchery stock may be, probably depends on where the hatchery sourced it's eggs from.
I have also lucked into good broodies with Black Jersey Giants and Light Sussex (though to lesser degree) and barnyard mixes...seems any mix with feathered legs has gone broody for us...seems the broody tendancies of the bantams with feathered legs carries through to the daughters even when rooster involved is a non broody prone large fowl.
I have heard many comment that their black australorp have been broody but may be hard to positively ID a BA instead of Black Sex links which are much more common and typically not known for being broody.

 

[nchls school]

Thanks, everyone. I've seen brahma and orpingtons at the auction each time we have gone. Between these two breeds is one better than the other; more prone to broodiness??

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

I think its about the same but I have only had one go Broody and it was my fathered footer Brahma.

 

[Selsley]

frizzy bantam hen hatched 3 eggs yesterday after it snowed and a forth today so far,
all will be EEs, she has 2 more to hatch and 2 of her own from the frizzy cock. the others are from our araucana cock,
the 4 hatchlings are from 3 different types of hen, so we will have 4 types counting our orpington cross that hatched in june

summers hatch also consisted of 5 more araucana chicks, 4 of which turned out male.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Can't wait to see how Limpie does with her first clutch i have been told turkey moms are the best mothers and that once a turkey raises a chicken that chicken is "always" her kid and anyone one who tries pecking them or upset them quickly learns their mistake when the turkry mom comes after then. Giggles

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks, everyone. I've seen brahma and orpingtons at the auction each time we have gone. Between these two breeds is one better than the other; more prone to broodiness??

I think the problem with trying to guess about brooding tendancies is that they vary even within breeds depending on the strain/family the stock is sourced from. If there is any way for you to speak with the folks who have brought their birds to auction I would try to see if any are there because they are persistent broodies (many people don't like them brooding and wil, sell off broodies because they hurt their egg production)

I hope you find a couple of good candidates!

 

[nchls school]

Quote:

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

So having issues with my new incubator so to ensure my hard broody turkey hen Limpy has something to show for all her hard work sitting on the nest today when I went to gather eggs I took a marker and put X's on 6 eggs two that she was currently sitting on any 4 more in the main nest box that another hen had just jumped out of after making her "daily room and food payment" and since since she was sitting on the others they were nice and warm when I put them in Limpy's nest which she quickly returned to after tending to her broody needs and quickly tucked everyone safe and sound under her. Now just to wait 22 days and see what she hatches.

 

[nchls school]

Can't wait to see how Limpie does with her first clutch i have been told turkey moms are the best mothers and that once a turkey raises a chicken that chicken is "always" her kid and anyone one who tries pecking them or upset them quickly learns their mistake when the turkry mom comes after then. Giggles

I sure hope you post pictures when the time comes. Have you decided on a price for any turkey eggs you sell? Apparently your birds are laying eggs. I have quite the list of possible broody breeds so hopefully I will have that broody hen soon. I do have some larger cross breed bantams that should be able to set 4-6 large eggs; it is hoped they will start laying soon.

 

[nchls school]

So having issues with my new incubator so to ensure my hard broody turkey hen Limpy has something to show for all her hard work sitting on the nest today when I went to gather eggs I took a marker and put X's on 6 eggs two that she was currently sitting on any 4 more in the main nest box that another hen had just jumped out of after making her "daily room and food payment" and since since she was sitting on the others they were nice and warm when I put them in Limpy's nest which she quickly returned to after tending to her broody needs and quickly tucked everyone safe and sound under her. Now just to wait 22 days and see what she hatches.

Good luck!!