Broody

[A silver laced dad]

Is a hen being broody a bad thing? I keep getting mixed answers.

 

[PirateGirl]

Is a hen being broody a bad thing? I keep getting mixed answers.

If you aren't trying to hatch and raise chicks it can be.

CONS to being broody:

• no eggs (if you aren't raising chickens for eggs, no worries here)
• disrupts pecking order, my broody is mean and fights when broody and is calm and docile when not broody
• hard on their health, a broody may not eat and drink as much as she should and this can lead to poor feather condition, weight loss, and being more susceptible to parasites and disease
• hogs the favorite nest box, this can also cause conflict with other hens as she may actually try and fight them off

hmm... that's all I can think of right now...

 

[sylviethecochin]

Depends on the circumstances.

If you have a rooster or can easily locate fertile eggs and want chicks, it can be a very good thing. Mum'll hatch, raise, and integrate the littles with the bigs better than you ever could, with very little effort on your part. If you have a favorite hen, this is a very good way to get some of her offspring.

If you don't have a rooster and cannot get fertile eggs or do not want chicks, then it's just a pain in the butt to break her. She won't be laying eggs while she's broody, so that's a pain as well. Some chickens will literally starve themselves to death on the nest, and so you have to break them if they're not hatching eggs.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is a hen being broody a bad thing? I keep getting mixed answers.

I think that's because it is different for everyone here.

The no eggs... that's kind of big because it can last not less than 6 but up to 12 weeks (depending on how long before she boots them) before the broody hen returns to lay. She will occupy a box for 3 weeks straight and after that her chicks will poo in it every night until she teaches them to roost.

Some people don't have room for more chicks. Those who do but don't want to deal with cockerel can adopt hatchery or feed store chicks to a broody... AND then she doesn't have to sit AS long, which also helps eggs return quicker.

If you have a plan, space, fertile eggs and so on... a broody can be a good thing. As long as she isn't broody back to back to back even when she is allowed to sit and raise clutches... this is excessive and detrimental to their health. I also won't let a pullet sit as they are still growing physically and maturing mentally. So not under one year old minimum. They don't need the toll that is taken from slowed digestion, reduced movement, and such. Plus they are better moms once mature, more prepared... more calm and confident, fuller bodies that can take some extra demand without sacrificing too much. That may not be what nature tell them, but this isn't nature.. most of us are aiming for longevity in our flocks.

Broody's aren't set em and forget em in my experience. Your set up will impact this, as well as YOUR flock dynamics... I manage my flock and anyone who don't get with program or constantly harasses new chicks or broody's... gets culled either freezer camp or sent to a new home, depending on other factors.

If you have a rooster and not that many hens... this impact things for your other hens as well. Worse so if he is a cockerel. Ratio and maturity matter.

ONE side bonus in addition to the integration and other skill mama teaches that I have discovered at LEAST in my Silkies (yet to confirm in other breeds).. they would do mini molts while raising their clutch.. (sitting isn't all peaches and cream for the hen), and as a result NEVER had a standard regular winter molt... thus offsetting any amount of time spent without eggs during brooding.

And the joy you see in the mama hens composure is so lovely, when she hunkers down on her little bundles! So cute watching the family grow and the babies ride on mama's back.

But then the big bad wolf came... or in our case, it was a hawk that kept stealing babies.

In other words, broody's have their pluses and minuses. I'm sooo happy I haven't had a broody in two whole months! Verses literally every week when I kept Silkies. What is true for me today.. may not be the case next week or next season. My needs and desires change and grow... and my chicken hobby follows suit. So if you wanna try, go for it. Maybe not now... use a breaker (or lock away from the nest) and plan for the hens next broody stent. Roll with it and make it work for you.

Even if you do break a broody hen it will often take one to two weeks to return to lay (some longer)... and dare I say a somewhat pleasant demeanor.

 

[aart]

It's 'bad' if you don't want chicks hatched......IMO it's a real PITA.