Confinement and Broodiness

[countyroad1330]

I was wondering if keeping only one pair in a pen will make the hen broodier. I've read alot of posts about so many chickens not setting on their eggs!

 

[Blisschick]

Not really. It depends on the breed...some are more liable to go broody than others, and they're mostly broody during the warm months. Most will begin to go broody when they get a nest full of eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

No, broodiness is genetic. So much has been bred out of the chickens of today in favor of egg production. Confining a non-broody type hen with a mate will have no effect, IMO.

 

[bigzio]

Yep, going broody is an instinct and can't be encouraged in any way shape or form. If a hen becomes broody, it is done on her own. Never because you did something you think helped.

bigzio

 

[bantymum]

I agree with all the posts and yes it has to be in the warmer months. You are starting to get chilly over there??? so they wont go broody now.
What type of chikens do you have?
If they are the broody type I just leave their eggs in there until they get to 6 or 7 and then they usually start getting Clucky!!!but again, only when the weather is warm.

 

[countyroad1330]

Well pooh! I don't have anything old enough to even lay right now. I was thinking about a getting a pair of Black Giants from someone, and I've read that they aren't broody. But I've got an incubator and sure don't mind being Chicken Mama!

 

[bantymum]

well dear, dont worry, you CAN have your cake and eat it too!!!
Just get your hens that you want and some fertilised eggs for your Bator!!!

 

[Blisschick]

I was thinking about a getting a pair of Black Giants from someone, and I've read that they aren't broody.

I can tell you from experience this won't work and is liable to be disasterous. Mine have gone broody a couple of times, but they're too big to sit on the eggs, so they end up breaking them. Nothing stinks worse on a hot day than rotten eggs in a nesting box and on your hen.

If you do decided to go with Jerseys and incubate the eggs, don't be surprised if the eggs take one or two days extra to hatch. They're big eggs and the chicks take a little longer to pop out.​