Does broodiness only occur with hens laying fertile eggs?

[JellyBeanCee]

I am new to this and have no chickens yet (we're preparing our chicken tractor and doing research), but was just curious as I read through here and there if broodiness was something hens did only when they were laying fertile eggs, or if they do it even when they have no rooster around?

 

[Katy]

No there doesn't have to be a rooster for them to go broody.

 

[Patricia Jane]

No rooster needed. Jus nature taking it's course.

 

[92caddy]

Ive seen hens that never been around a roo go broody. Some breeds are more broody then other breeds.

 

[satay]

Alot of broodiness comes down to the breed some are known to be more broody than others. for example my cochin bantams go broody all the time. You don't have to have a rooster for them to go broody they just do. While other breeds like isa brown and your more production type breeds have had the broodiness bred out of them so they very rarely if ever go broody. So in short no you don't need a rooster for a hen to go broody.

 

[JellyBeanCee]

Thanks for the quick responses, I was just being curious!