Broody timing

[Skibum]

Last year was my first year with a broody. She wanted to sit around 1 year old and committed to her nest around May 1st last year. I sort of assumed she’d go broody around the same time this year, but it hasn’t happened! If you have a hen that’s gone broody is it more likely she will go broody again the following year? Is the timing usually similar or not necessarily?

She was an excellent mom and I would love for her to raise me some chicks this year!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Last year was my first year with a broody. She wanted to sit around 1 year old and committed to her nest around May 1st last year. I sort of assumed she’d go broody around the same time this year, but it hasn’t happened! If you have a hen that’s gone broody is it more likely she will go broody again the following year? Is the timing usually similar or not necessarily?

She was an excellent mom and I would love for her to raise me some chicks this year!

Hi!!
My hens have gone broody 2 times- each time, they went broody in May and hatched chicks in June. 2 of my babies seem to have an internal clock and they have lately been fluffing up and doing the broody cluck whenever the roos come near them (maybe they are faking to keep the boys from mating with them?)
Your girl may not necessarily go broody at the exact time as last year, but perhaps in a few weeks or so! So relatively the same time. But this is just my experience. I'm sure it varies between climate and what mood the hen is in.
And be warned...Broodiness is contagious..My brahma hen decided to be a mom last year because she saw how two of her flock mates were broody lol!

 

[Skibum]

Hi!!
My hens have gone broody 2 times- each time, they went broody in May and hatched chicks in June. 2 of my babies seem to have an internal clock and they have lately been fluffing up and doing the broody cluck whenever the roos come near them (maybe they are faking to keep the boys from mating with them?)
Your girl may not necessarily go broody at the exact time as last year, but perhaps in a few weeks or so! So relatively the same time. But this is just my experience. I'm sure it varies between climate and what mood the hen is in.
And be warned...Broodiness is contagious..My brahma hen decided to be a mom last year because she saw how two of her flock mates were broody lol!

Ok I’ll keep waiting and seeing. We have had really cold nights so I thought that might be delaying her (right around freezing) it’s generally like that here in Colorado I sort of think it might have been warmer last spring bc I remember the lilacs pushing early and all the blooms failing because of it. Maybe she’s just waiting for overnight temps to be higher.

 

[Yardmom]

Some hens regularly go broody multiple times a year. Some go broody once a year (It may or may not be the same time of year). Others might skip years or never go broody again. I have had hens do all of the above.

 

[ChookaPete]

Broodiness frequency can be entirely random!

I had a hen who went broody twice in only the last few months. I say "had" because just this morning I found she has started laying eggs again! For the last month she has been a busy Mama raising two chicks.

 

[Perris]

If you have a hen that’s gone broody is it more likely she will go broody again the following year?

More likely, yes, in my experience (which is 10 different broody hens to date), though not necessarily in the following year; they may skip a year or two

Is the timing usually similar or not necessarily?

Not necessarily

We have had really cold nights so I thought that might be delaying her (right around freezing)

Maybe she’s just waiting for overnight temps to be higher.

I think you are right. Naturally birds schedule having chicks to coincide with the peak hatching period of insect grubs/ nymphs/ caterpillars etc., which they will use to feed their young, where they are. The date or averages are irrelevant from that perspective. What matters is the temperature and insect egg laying behaviour in your area in response to it.

 

[Altairsky]

Broodiness is completely random 99.9% of time. Chickens that has already gone broody will usually go broody again, but who knows when. Some go broody every year, others will skip a year.
Then there are 0.01% serial broodies which are both a blessing and a curse. Some breeds are more prone to be serial broodies (silkies, cochins). Serial broodies will go broody very regularly and are highly predictable. I have a serial broody that goes 1 month laying, 1 month sitting, 1 month raising chicks, repeat. When she gets so gluttonous to even steal food from the mouth of the dominant hen (she's a bantam and the dominant hen is a huge meat breed), it means she'll go broody in a week or 2.

 

[Skibum]

Broodiness is completely random 99.9% of time. Chickens that has already gone broody will usually go broody again, but who knows when. Some go broody every year, others will skip a year.
Then there are 0.01% serial broodies which are both a blessing and a curse. Some breeds are more prone to be serial broodies (silkies, cochins). Serial broodies will go broody very regularly and are highly predictable. I have a serial broody that goes 1 month laying, 1 month sitting, 1 month raising chicks, repeat. When she gets so gluttonous to even steal food from the mouth of the dominant hen (she's a bantam and the dominant hen is a huge meat breed), it means she'll go broody in a week or 2.

Thanks for the info. So far I only have one broody hen. She is an Olive Egger with Marian dominance. I don’t think she’s crested mix so I’m assuming Americana mixed but has the body shape and color closer to Maran. She went broody early spring last year hatched May 21. I was hoping she’d go broody again bc I want to improve my hen to rooster ratio without having to introduce outside chickens because with everything going on this year I am concerned with bio security. Because I have such a small flock I’m assuming I’ll need to add new genetics soon anyways. I replaced my old roo with his offspring this year so my plan was to only hatch from my 4 non related hens and not cross him to his two half sisters (his mother passed this year so that isn’t a worry).