Broody question

[rkinley]

I saw the statement below on another site. Is this true??

"When the chicken lays the egg it goes into a state of suspended animation as she lays a new egg in her nest every day. After several days the hen goes broody & sits on the eggs and all fertilized eggs will then proceed to grow into baby chicks. Because we remove the eggs each day there’s no opportunity for an accumulation of eggs but it’s fascinating how nature works!"

 

[ChickNanny13]

"Broody" is a hormonal issue ... Here's another thread about "broodies" ....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/explain-what-being-broody-is-to-me.1335744/

 

[rkinley]

"Broody" is a hormonal issue ... Here's another thread about "broodies" ....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/explain-what-being-broody-is-to-me.1335744/

 

[rkinley]

I have 2 Buffs that have set on and raised 4 clutches over 2 years so I'm familiar with the whole hormone thing. The part I didn't know and wondered if it was true is that they will just "go broody" any old time if I simply don't collect the eggs. Mine have certainly gone broody with no eggs. I just didn't know leaving them out there could trigger those hormones to kick in.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Broody will go broody without eggs, it's hormones calling. Some will break them with Broody Jail while others will stick fertilized eggs under her.

 

[50-45-1]

I dont think "suspended animation" is a correct decription.
Not all hens go broody. Some breeds like leghorn have had the broodyness breed out so egg production is not interupted.
Leaving eggs in a nest hoping to entice a broody more than likely will result in broken or rotten eggs. A few golf balls will work better. I keep one or two golf balls in all my nest boxes to ensure the eggs are laid there.
Some breeds are more likely to go broody than others. My best and most dependable broodies are my jap bantams and one really special barred rock, she is just a great mom.
Silkys, orphingtons and astralorps are known for being good broodies.