Broody Overload

[ThreeH]

We have 26 laying hens and 2 roosters. Over the last 4 months, 11 of those 26 went broody and hatched eggs. We didn't mind this as we have started to regularly rotate our flock for meat. BUT, 4 of those 11 are trying to go broody again already!

We were thinking this would be the end of this broody season and we wouldn't have to worry about managing our flock size again until next season. Not complaining, but we need a "broody break". It is a lot when managing that many broody hens and their broods to make sure everyone remains as safe and healthy as possible.

I wanted to know: Is it normal to have this many broody hens? And for them to be broody so frequently? Do they just seem to be taking cues from each other? And if so, how do we discourage that many hens from being broody? (We only have so many kennels/crates to use to deter broodiness.)

Photos just for fun.

 

[DobieLover]

Is it normal to have this many broody hens?

It can be.

And for them to be broody so frequently?

Yes. I have a broody with 2 cockerels just over 6.5 weeks old. She is molting and she keeps setting on eggs in the nest box... with her boys in there with her.

Do they just seem to be taking cues from each other?

Broodiness can be catchy if you don't stop it right away.

And if so, how do we discourage that many hens from being broody?

Break them as soon as they show the slightest signs of being broody. By now, you could be a professor at teaching what the signs of broodiness are.

 

[ThreeH]

It can be.

Yes. I have a broody with 2 cockerels just over 6.5 weeks old. She is molting and she keeps setting on eggs in the nest box... with her boys in there with her.

Broodiness can be catchy if you don't stop it right away.

Break them as soon as they show the slightest signs of being broody. By now, you could be a professor at teaching what the signs of broodiness are.

Yes, we have gotten pretty good at recognizing broody girls at this point.

Thank you for answering all of my questions. Just realized I threw quite a few out there.

Sounds like your girl wants to be an overachiever like ours and she isn't letting a few cockerels get in her way.

 

[BlueBaby]

What breed are they? Maybe you picked out a breed that is known to go broody?

 

[ThreeH]

What breed are they? Maybe you picked out a breed that is known to go broody?

Australorp - Black and Blue

The blues are the most broody. Every single blue girl we have has went broody.

 

[BlueBaby]

Australorp - Black and Blue

The blues are the most broody. Every single blue girl we have has went broody.

Ok, that's a breed that's known to go broody.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

It's like a virus. I had one broody. I let her hatch chicks. The second those babies started peeping three more hens (two in a separate coop even) went broody. I managed to break two but I got eggs for the older one cause she's my boss hen and that should come with some perks lol

 

[aart]

And if so, how do we discourage that many hens from being broody?

Some might be good candidates for the freezer/table.

 

[DobieLover]

Sounds like your girl wants to be an overachiever like ours and she isn't letting a few cockerels get in her way.

Or she's teaching them the tricks of the trade and I'll not only have two cockerels I don't want in the flock, they'll go broody too! What a nightmare.

 

[BlueBaby]

Or she's teaching them the tricks of the trade and I'll not only have two cockerels I don't want in the flock, they'll go broody too! What a nightmare.

Too bad she couldn't just teach them boy's how to hatch the egg's for her so that she could continue laying the egg's?