Can a hen get broody without a rooster?

[DementedHam]

Can a hen get broody without a rooster around to mount them and such?

I know there is a thread somewhere but I've looked and I can't find it. I ask because I plan on giving away my roo and keeping only my hens. I would still like them to get broody because my cousin would be able to supply me with eggs. Any and all experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Marlinchaser]

YES, a hen can go broodie without a roo, and will sit on whatever you give her, golfballs/nonfertile eggs/duck eggs etc.... when thier CLOCK tells them it is time to sit, they will sit unless you break them of it, till they decide they have sat long enough or till something hatches

 

[estpr13]

I agree. I had a bantam who whould go broody every 5th week. I had to find a roo for her. She did hatch out some other breed of chicks for me and was an excellent mother.

 

[bluey]

Ours did twice in 1 year w/o a rooster, so I say heck yeah! I pull my gal off the nest every morning and close the coop until the evening to break her of it (assuming that's what you want), so we minimize the loss of laying time.

 

[bigzio]

Becoming broody is a instink that mother nature provides....folks that would kill for a broody hen don't have one, while folks cuss their boody hens for always being broody.

You just gotta love those pretty hens.

bigzio

 

[HenHaven]

Definitely!