BYC Café

[Shadrach]

Most of my girls are non-broody breeds and so far have held true to that, which I’m thankful for. Even though I would loooove bunches on top of bunches of chicks, I can’t let myself have that. When it comes to anything that falls under “being my responsibility,” I become a control freak and everything has to be just so so. That is one of my downfalls. Luckily as I age I am mellowing just a bit, but the OCD is still there. I have realized the 37 birds I have right now are my upper limit...as far as keepers. However, I am not ruling out hatching some and selling them, as layers and excess cockerels.
I had read that broodies do go into a trance-like state when setting and I did notice that about my broody. She was very determined not to leave the eggs at all, and I was even more determined that I was going to remove her once each day. I suppose part of the stubbornness I witnessed was partly her trance as well.

I'm not a believer in this notion of non broody breeds. The drive to procreate is so fundamental that if anyone did, or does manage to breed it out of a chicken then they don't have a chicken any more.
What does happen is this drive gets suppressed by the keeping arrangements. Prior to me taking over the care of the chickens here not a single hen had gone broody in many years. Now they all go broody. While I don't know of any method that will ensure a hen goes broody, there are a few options that tend to encourage it.

 

[Shadrach]

I think I've got the right day. Happy Anniversary Mr @sourland

 

[blackandtan]

I'm not a believer in this notion of non broody breeds. The drive to procreate is so fundamental that if anyone did, or does manage to breed it out of a chicken then they don't have a chicken any more.
What does happen is this drive gets suppressed by the keeping arrangements. Prior to me taking over the care of the chickens here not a single hen had gone broody in many years. Now they all go broody. While I don't know of any method that will ensure a hen goes broody, there are a few options that tend to encourage it.

There are?
What can I do to help my hens try to set? (Current flock is mostly Columbia x, an isa brown, a BSL, an EE and one RIR, all 3-6yrs old, none has ever been broody so it may be hopeless. They’re covered by a barred rock roo, he’s 5).
I’m getting a whole new flock this spring: brahmas, jersey giant, cuckoo Marans and leghorn. I love my roo and don’t want a new one but if the hatchery makes an oops and sends one he’ll still be welcome. Total flock will be 35-40)

 

[blackandtan]

There are?
What can I do to help my hens try to set? (Current flock is mostly Columbia x, an isa brown, a BSL, an EE and one RIR, all 3-6yrs old, none has ever been broody so it may be hopeless. They’re covered by a barred rock roo, he’s 5).
I’m getting a whole new flock this spring: brahmas, jersey giant, cuckoo Marans and leghorn. I love my roo and don’t want a new one but if the hatchery makes an oops and sends one he’ll still be welcome. Total flock will be 35-40)

Oh and by “new flock” I mean just adding, I usually keep the oldies around, they’re still my gardening buddies

 

[Shadrach]

There are?
What can I do to help my hens try to set? (Current flock is mostly Columbia x, an isa brown, a BSL, an EE and one RIR, all 3-6yrs old, none has ever been broody so it may be hopeless. They’re covered by a barred rock roo, he’s 5).
I’m getting a whole new flock this spring: brahmas, jersey giant, cuckoo Marans and leghorn. I love my roo and don’t want a new one but if the hatchery makes an oops and sends one he’ll still be welcome. Total flock will be 35-40)

How do you keep your flock?

 

[igorsMistress]

Morning all, thanks for the coffee. I'm appalled that a person compared cock fighting with a home poker game in a response to my post in a thread. It's"sinful" but accepted. I hardly think there's a comparison there and it's taking all I've got not to go back and say more than I did.

 

[igorsMistress]

There are?
What can I do to help my hens try to set? (Current flock is mostly Columbia x, an isa brown, a BSL, an EE and one RIR, all 3-6yrs old, none has ever been broody so it may be hopeless. They’re covered by a barred rock roo, he’s 5).
I’m getting a whole new flock this spring: brahmas, jersey giant, cuckoo Marans and leghorn. I love my roo and don’t want a new one but if the hatchery makes an oops and sends one he’ll still be welcome. Total flock will be 35-40)

You can try leaving a clutch of eggs in the nest for a few days.

 

[blackandtan]

How do you keep your flock?

They have a new 24x24 coop, they’re free range in summer but in winter I try to let them out as often as possible.
I slapped together a nesting area cause I ran out of time after the coop reno this fall so I’m absolutely open to rebuilding that section...in the spring
My goal is to reproduce the breeds I want to keep, without buying hatchery stock every year

 

[blackandtan]

Morning all, thanks for the coffee. I'm appalled that a person compared cock fighting with a home poker game in a response to my post in a thread. It's"sinful" but accepted. I hardly think there's a comparison there and it's taking all I've got not to go back and say more than I did.

Wait, what!?! I missed that one!
I can’t believe someone on byc would actually say that.

 

[igorsMistress]

Wait, what!?! I missed that one!
I can’t believe someone on byc would actually say that.

The person said that was how it was explained to them and agreed it's cruel, but really?! Anyway, I'll shut up.