BYC Café

[ronott1]

I was told this about the chickens here when I took over their care. There have been various breeds here over the years sourced from the UK, France and locally. Until I took over their care that had not been a single incident of a hen going broody.
I spoke to a few of the local chicken keepers here and the general consensus was the breeding out of such a basic instinct was complete nonsense.
I was told it's about how you keep them.
So, I listened to the people here who have been keeping chickens for centuries. It did take a bit of time but now every hen that lays eggs will go broody.
What reinforces the notion that the broodiness has not been bred out of many breeds is what happens when for whatever reasons those breeds that are supposedly bred to such a point go feral. There are plenty of reports of some of the American standard breeds reproducing and able to keep a maintain a thriving colony.

There may be truth to this....but when I had other breeds they did go boody.

Just my own experience though. Nothing can be proven from that lol!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Not certain why maybe the mentality of the coop ? barred rock I had where hatchery never broody but boy they layed eggs like no tomorrow.. well all EE breeder birds nope not one broody in 5 years bought the americana pullets went broody drove me nuts eating their young sold all of them one old OE I bought from breeder bought 4 sex link hatchery now speckled sussex now 2 cochin all hatchery do not care if main coop birds breed have 4 silkie for that never issues up there

 

[Shadrach]

There may be truth to this....but when I had other breeds they did go boody.

Just my own experience though. Nothing can be proven from that lol!

What breeds do you have now?
If my memory serves me you are only allowed to keep hens (?)

 

[Shadrach]

I cannot believe the mess the mouse I evicted this morning has made.
This is just one drawer, he/she has tried out six. Worse than Goldilocks in the three bears house.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I was told this about the chickens here when I took over their care. There have been various breeds here over the years sourced from the UK, France and locally. Until I took over their care that had not been a single incident of a hen going broody.
I spoke to a few of the local chicken keepers here and the general consensus was the breeding out of such a basic instinct was complete nonsense.
I was told it's about how you keep them.
So, I listened to the people here who have been keeping chickens for centuries. It did take a bit of time but now every hen that lays eggs will go broody.
What reinforces the notion that the broodiness has not been bred out of many breeds is what happens when for whatever reasons those breeds that are supposedly bred to such a point go feral. There are plenty of reports of some of the American standard breeds reproducing and able to keep a maintain a thriving colony.

I wonder if it's a difference in ranging or comfort maybe? I've seen a lot of people say that hatchery birds don't go broody, but that's basically all I have and get many a broody chicken

 

[Shadrach]

I was told a lot of things when I started asking questions here, some of which I have proven to be true through experimenting and experience and some of which seems to be like folk law, which may, or may not be true.
It would take a long time to write it all out.
There is a marked difference in perception of the chicken here compared to the US from what I can gather on these forums at least. Here the chicken is considered to be a very intelligent creature.
What's interesting as more studies on chicken behaviour and intelligence measures are published the closer the information is to the view the breeders here in particular have.
I don't know of anyone here that keeps single sex flocks for example.
I don't know anyone here who adheres to the one rooster to ten or more hens keeping arrangements.
Very few keep chickens in coops and runs. The exceptions being those who breed game fowl.

 

[igorsMistress]

Morning Cafe got my giggles for the morning I hate Spiders do not care what kind Death to them all two cups of coffee BF and I are headed to Costco lost one blue Cochin's last night

Oh no Penny, I'm sorry

 

[N F C]

I was told a lot of things when I started asking questions here, some of which I have proven to be true through experimenting and experience and some of which seems to be like folk law, which may, or may not be true.
It would take a long time to write it all out.
There is a marked difference in perception of the chicken here compared to the US from what I can gather on these forums at least. Here the chicken is considered to be a very intelligent creature.
What's interesting as more studies on chicken behaviour and intelligence measures are published the closer the information is to the view the breeders here in particular have.
I don't know of anyone here that keeps single sex flocks for example.
I don't know anyone here who adheres to the one rooster to ten or more hens keeping arrangements.
Very few keep chickens in coops and runs. The exceptions being those who breed game fowl.

It's interesting to hear the differences between different countries and how they do things.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I was told a lot of things when I started asking questions here, some of which I have proven to be true through experimenting and experience and some of which seems to be like folk law, which may, or may not be true.
It would take a long time to write it all out.
There is a marked difference in perception of the chicken here compared to the US from what I can gather on these forums at least. Here the chicken is considered to be a very intelligent creature.
What's interesting as more studies on chicken behaviour and intelligence measures are published the closer the information is to the view the breeders here in particular have.
I don't know of anyone here that keeps single sex flocks for example.
I don't know anyone here who adheres to the one rooster to ten or more hens keeping arrangements.
Very few keep chickens in coops and runs. The exceptions being those who breed game fowl.

What do you recommend for the hen/rooster ratio? Or do you base it on behavior only?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Wanted to add that at the moment I have a rooster and two cockerels in one coop, 2 roosters in another, and one rooster in the third. All range together.