Do I tough out broody or break her!?

[Danyander]

I am very torn. I want to let her broody because I want to have her raise chicks in the future. But at the same time I know broody is contagious and I only have 5 hens.

 

[sourland]

Breaking her broodiness will not stop her from going broody in the future. How do you know that broodiness is contagious?

 

[Danyander]

From what I have read.

 

[trailrider330]

If your hen is broody, you have a couple options:
1.) Let her stay broody and raise a clutch of chicks (Do you have fertile eggs or access to them?)
2.) Break her of her broodiness (search "broody hen" on BYC for ways to break a broody hen)

Certain breeds are more prone to broodiness than others, but it is not contagious. It can, however, cause others to slow on their egg production.

Once a hen goes broody, chances are she will go broody again so there is not a problem in breaking her of her broodiness if you do not want chicks at this time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think she's right about it being contagious, one starts and it seems to give them all the idea, I think it's the dumb noises they make. Break it quickly.

 

[Danyander]

If your hen is broody, you have a couple options:
1.) Let her stay broody and raise a clutch of chicks (Do you have fertile eggs or access to them?)
2.) Break her of her broodiness (search "broody hen" on BYC for ways to break a broody hen)

Certain breeds are more prone to broodiness than others, but it is not contagious.  It can, however, cause others to slow on their egg production. 

Once a hen goes broody, chances are she will go broody again so there is not a problem in breaking her of her broodiness if you do not want chicks at this time. 

We don't have a rooster so no eggs. My friend has fertilized eggs but she said she wouldn't give any to me because it's not the right time of year to hatch other wise that's the first thing that came to mind. Was let her hatch some eggs.

 

[Percheron chick]

It's a good time to hatch eggs. They will be feathered out and be able to be in the big coop before winter sets in. They will grow out over the winter and start laying early spring. If you wait until spring to hatch, you won't be getting eggs until Halloween.

 

[trailrider330]

That is just your friend's opinion. There are plenty of people on BYC that hatch into September and beyond. Even many hatcheries and breeders are still shipping day-old chicks into September and beyond as well. Plenty of people on eBay are still selling their eggs to people who are still going to hatch them too. If your friend won't give you any, see if you can locate some elsewhere. (Craigslist, eBay, buy/sell/trade on BYC, fertile eggs at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, etc.). If you set eggs on the 1st of September, you would have chicks around the 22nd of September, they would still be feathered out by mid-November and mama would keep them plenty warm in the meantime.

Or, one other option, let her sit on some fake eggs, then swap them with a few day-old chicks (if you can locate some) and put them under her one evening when all the others are roosting. Then, check on her periodically during the first 24 hours or so to ensure she is a good mama and accepts the chicks.

 

[Danyander]

I'll talk to my friend again. I think wilco has some chicks coming soon. I will look.

 

[Danyander]

Well looks like purchasing fertilized eggs from her isn't going to happen. And I am not sure when Wilco gets chicks for fall. Hopefully it passed fast and her other friends don't decide they want to broody as well. I want eggs! Lol (I call them the 3 mustukateers because we have 3 BSL that do everything together). I have 2 BR that do their own thing so I am sure they won't broody. And I only have 3 nesting boxes.