Broody hens by breed?

[Will230145]

I have heard a lot that breed is a huge factor in broody hens. So, when you get a hen from a hatchery they have most likely made that hen one that will not likely become broody, because of egg laying reasons. I have a few hens that were raised by a friends hen, all of those hens have gone broody. Is there a reason why even my Buff Orpington's of 4 years, hatchery raised, known to be a broody breed, have never gone broody? But my other hens known to NOT go broody have? (sorry if in the wrong place) Thanks!

 

[Wezdin]

In the end it all comes down to the individual, People have had Production reds that were great mothers, even though no one would tell you they would go broody. It all depends on the strain of the breed, it is true that hatcheries try to "take" broody out of the genetics, but they haven't done it completely.
Birds from a farm haven't been bred to get rid of the quality, so they can be more likely to go broody. Hopefully that answered your question!

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

I have heard a lot that breed is a huge factor in broody hens. So, when you get a hen from a hatchery they have most likely made that hen one that will not likely become broody, because of egg laying reasons. I have a few hens that were raised by a friends hen, all of those hens have gone broody. Is there a reason why even my Buff Orpington's of 4 years, hatchery raised, known to be a broody breed, have never gone broody? But my other hens known to NOT go broody have? (sorry if in the wrong place) Thanks!

Cockerels have an effect on them quite often because fertile eggs means the hens want to hatch them. Do you have a roo? And yes breeds do have a massive effect, my pekins are all broody at the moment. We’re not getting many eggs as they often stop when broody. Fluffy bums as we call it seem to be the worst breed for it. (Silkies, pekins, cochins) It’s also the time of the year at the moment unfortunately. Spring and summer are when it’s worst.

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

Cockerels have an effect on them quite often because fertile eggs means the hens want to hatch them. Do you have a roo? And yes breeds do have a massive effect, my pekins are all broody at the moment. We’re not getting many eggs as they often stop when broody. Fluffy bums as we call it seem to be the worst breed for it. (Silkies, pekins, cochins) It’s also the time of the year at the moment unfortunately. Spring and summer are when it’s worst.

I don’t know how accurate this assumption is but we’ve always said that hand reared chicks don’t go as broody as one that a hen has reared herself because a chicken raised by a hen or broody hen will have a stronger maternal instinct.

 

[Nana.Lew]

I don’t know how accurate this assumption is but we’ve always said that hand reared chicks don’t go as broody as one that a hen has reared herself because a chicken raised by a hen or broody hen will have a stronger maternal instinct.

That is really interesting!