broody-type hens, no rooster

[cindys6436]

Hello -

I am planning on getting three hens. I can't have a rooster. I would like to get three silkies (or maybe two silkies and a frizzle). Anyway, when I had chickens in the past, I had more property and roosters weren't a problem for me to keep. Most of my silkies were broody, and I let them hatch their eggs and raise the chicks.

Now that I can only have hens, I wonder if having only hens with a breed that ends to be broody will be a problem. Will it cause mental stress for a hen whose eggs will never hatch? How do I manage this situation?

Hope someone can help!

Thanks,
Cindy

 

[Kittymomma]

You can always buy some fertile eggs for them or try putting some day old chicks under them at night after they've spent a couple of weeks brooding the dud eggs. There are lots of threads on breaking broody hens too and IMO it's the best thing to do if you're not/can't let them hatch out some eggs. They don't take very good care of themselves while broody and can have some health problems if it goes on too long.

 

[sourland]

Buy fertile eggs or arrange for psychological counseling.