Broody Hens

[CrazyChickLady7]

Hey what is everybody's most broody hen? I want a broody hen, but I want to know what the best kinds are first.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Best moms or most likely to go broody?

Silkies are probably most broody prone.
Cochins and Orpingtons go broody often.
I've went from having around 30 breeds in my life to now only raising Black Penedesencas. I have 2 sitting on eggs now and another that just hatched chicks a couple days ago.
The only other breed I have is an Ameraucana and she has raised at least one brood a year since 2009.
I had 11 Black Penedesenca pullets in a building and 9 went broody at the same time on a community nest.

That said, I had a Black Leghorn (notorious non-setters) that raised one or two broods a year for me.

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

I have America as a cochin and some jubilee orpingtons (not yet old enough to set) and none will go broody!!! Maybe ill have luck with the jubilees. I'm planning on breeding my orps so maybe she can sit on some other eggs, while I incubate hers.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The quality of the nest box has an effect as well and breed desire to raise a family.
I find that if I use excelsior mats, pine shavings or long dried grass (comfy stuff), they go broody more than if I use plastic nest pads.
A darker place with good air makes a difference too.

Commercial cage free operations eliminate dark spaces to discourage broodiness.

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Oh ok. Maybe I will make a larger nesting box with holes drilled in the bottom end like small holes