Broody hens

[fairyfinn]

Hi!
I'm looking into getting a few hens, largely for pets, but the eggs are a bonus. I've seen a lot of breeds advertised as broody, or good mothers. Does this make them less good if I just want them for eggs, rather than to breed with? Or does them being broody just mean that they are good mothers as well as good layers?
Thanks for your help

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

While broody a hen will usually slow in egg production in my experience, but also honestly my Cochins, which are supposed to be a broody breed, has RARELY gone broody compared to my Easter Eggers or my old English game bantam hen who is such a psycho xD personally I feel like it can really rely on the bird, I don't personally feel like broodiness has much to do with how good of a layer they are what breeds are you thinking?

 

[fairyfinn]

Interesting, thanks I was thinking Plymouth Rocks would be perfect

 

[rosemarythyme]

"Broody" just means the breed may be more inclined to setting on eggs.

If egg production is important to you, best to choose breeds that are less inclined to be broody, as broodies stop laying and their hormonal wackiness can cause them to disrupt other layers.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Interesting, thanks I was thinking Plymouth Rocks would be perfect

Good choice for not going broody. Although it could depend on hatchery, I've read about a couple of broody's on here.
I don't want a broody chicken (less eggs) and choose breeds/types not known for broody behavior.
I had 5 Golden Comets, up to 4 years old never went broody.
I had 7 Barred Rocks, 3 left at 23 months old.
None ever went broody. I got them at TSC, they get them from Hoover's Hatchery.
They were eggcellent layers the first year, average the second year.
I only had one with a health problem, prolapse.
Another the runt of the litter hung out in the coop all day, became an egg eater. I euthanized both.
I lost the other 2 while free ranging, one to a Fox and the other to a Bobcat or a Fox.
Here's some pics of my remaining 3 hens.

. I have 5 new pullets ISA Browns, 12 weeks old, not known for broody behavior.

GC