can caged hens go broody?

[chickenshiha]

I get breeds of chicken and put each pair of same breed in a 4x4 coops with a little run for each pair and I got 2 silkies one male and one female and was wondering if I only have a rooster and a hen in a coop by themselves will the hen go broody? I have been thinking about it for days cuz silkies go broody but only a pair can they go broody? I'm not the mix flock breed type

 

[centrarchid]

I get breeds of chicken and put each pair of same breed in a 4x4 coops with a little run for each pair and I got 2 silkies one male and one female and was wondering if I only have a rooster and a hen in a coop by themselves will the hen go broody? I have been thinking about it for days cuz silkies go broody but only a pair can they go broody? I'm not the mix flock breed type

Yes, I do it fairly routinely with my chickens. It is in my trade referred to as single mating. I like to make so when hen is on nest, much of the time rooster is not in direct line of sight. Most of time hens nest in a covered box with opening away from open area of pen. An overturned bucket also makes for a good nest site. I like to use soil as part of the nesting material.

 

[centrarchid]

Most of my pens are similar to the one below except design I like best is as tall as it is wide. Do not make nest like I did unless rooster is removed.

 

[chickenshiha]

Most of my pens are similar to the one below except design I like best is as tall as it is wide. Do not make nest like I did unless rooster is removed.

so when the sit I take the hen away and her eggs and rooster all by himself or leave her with her eggs with the rooster in the cage

 

[centrarchid]

I remove rooster. Hen is more attached to site than actual eggs so moving her is very likely to break her broodiness. Much of time I give each hen her own pen. Every couple days or so hen and rooster allowed to meet usually in her pen our outside to mate, then both directed back to respective pens using feed as an enticement. Birds tame and trained a little for such to work,

 

[Georgey]

Hi, what if I only intend to keep layers in the cage system for commercial purpose. Can they still go broody?

 

[aart]

Hi, what if I only intend to keep layers in the cage system for commercial purpose. Can they still go broody?

Possible. Might depend on breed and individual birds.
How big are cages?
How many birds in each cage?

 

[Georgey]

Possible. Might depend on breed and individual birds.
How big are cages?
How many birds in each cage?

The cages 150cm x 150cm for 20birds.
Don't know if you are familiar with KARI/ KALRO or KenBro breeds that we have here in Kenya for commercial purpose, Or from any that you're conversant with..

 

[Georgey]

The cages 150cm x 150cm for 20birds.
Don't know if you are familiar with KARI/ KALRO or KenBro breeds that we have here in Kenya for commercial purpose, Or from any that you're conversant with..

Or I could have the design as 500cm by 50cm i.e. the base

 

[aart]

The cages 150cm x 150cm for 20birds.

That's very tight space.
Factory Farm conditions
I doubt a bird in those conditions would go broody.