Do you need a rooster around for a hen to go broody?

[firsthouse_mp]

Thank you everyone! I do hope that one of my EEs might have that happen....at least now I know if one won't get out of the nest box and seems surly, what's going on. For now I have 4 chicks in my garage.....and six hens still running around the yard.

Question: Does the broodiness pass after a certain age? One of the posts alluded to the fact that the 3 year old probably won't ever get broody anymore. She also isn't a very good layer so it may be time for her to be re-homed.......

 

[dsqard]

You know you could always buy an incubator and some fertile eggs if you want to have some chicks.

Not enabling you, just saying

 

[sourland]

Broodiness doesn't pass; i.e., if a hen has been broody, she will continue to have broody spells throughout her entire life. I think what the other poster meant was that if a hen has not been broody by the time she is 3, she probably will never go broody.