I have silkies and cochins, and had quite a few hatch last year in April, the first ones started laying late last fall, maybe November, and I believe all are now, well were anyway... about half went broody a couple weeks after starting to lay, lol. They make great incubators and mamas I use them to hatch everything, I cant keep them laying for more than a week or 2 usually, due to their propensity for broodiness.