Broody "Hen"

[Rikki]

When my Light Brahma, "Amber Fluffy Feet," was six weeks old, two chickens were killed and we replaced them with day-old chicks. Amber took to them like they were her own. When one chick was killed by a dog, Amber became incredibly protective of "Hammer Slayer" (never let a 5-year-old name your chickens.

), even to the point of rejecting the other chick's replacement. It's only been in the last 10 days or so that she's allowed "Hammie" (who is now nearly 18 weeks old) away from her for a significant amount of time. She is an excellent mama and I would love to give her fertilized eggs the next time she gets broody and watch her do it all over again.

Amber is 24 weeks old. The rest of the girls in her age group are laying; only Amber is not. Any thoughts as to why? Is it because she's a "mama," or because she's a Light Brahma and they're not extremely productive layers?

 

[Judy]

They won't ordinarily lay eggs while they are "mothering" a chick.

 

[Rikki]

So, when do chickens decide that their babies are adults and stop mothering them?

 

[Den in Penn]

When they do. That varies with the individual, some earlier than others.

 

[Rikki]

Oh, well then Amber Fluffy Feet is never going to be giving me eggs.

She loves being a mama (and has been crazy good at it, too). Our roo, Aki Bocky the Ameruacana, should be able to tell when she's ready to lay, wouldn't he? (He's been leaving her--and our two younger girls--alone... but he thinks he's Casanova with the girls who are laying.)