Broody young chickens?

[TPR 64]

Hi everyone, I have 2 Aussies that are suddenly broody .
They are 10-11 months old, is this odd?
They gave been prolific layers , 6-7 eggs a week.
Now they are camping out in the nesting box together.
I only have 3 chickens and am new to chickens.
Thanks for any info

 

[23kthistlethwaite]

I had a Wyandotte go broody at nine months and it was at the start of winter. I wouldn’t say that it is abnormal

 

[demonic]

Hi everyone, I have 2 Aussies that are suddenly broody .
They are 10-11 months old, is this odd?
They gave been prolific layers , 6-7 eggs a week.
Now they are camping out in the nesting box together.
I only have 3 chickens and am new to chickens.
Thanks for any info

They can go broody whenever they start to lay, so they can even become broody at 5 months if they really wanted to. 10-11 months isn’t odd for a broody mama

 

[JedJackson]

It's not unusual, but it is a nuisance since the first year of production is the best. It might be best to break them of their broodiness.

 

[TPR 64]

Thanks so much. I'm in Sacramento area in CA...gonna be 108 here this week, was worried since it didn't seem like they were eating or drinking much just staying in the coop bunched in the box.

 

[TPR 64]

Very good. I have been picking them up and putting them out in the run.
They seem to eat and drink a bit then back into the coop .
Thanks for the reply.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Australorps are related to Orpingtons, which can be very broody. I love Orps but won't have them any more due to their broodiness. The first year I had them, they laid a few eggs and almost immeduately went broody. They were out of production their whole first year, brooding then raising their chicks, then molting, then wintering. The following spring was a repeat, as was the third year. I tried and tried to break the broodiness. Ultimately they made good soup. My Australorps are showing no signs of broodiness so far, however. Good luck!

 

[TPR 64]

Great. Thank you.