Does broody behavior in one hen create broody behavior in the flock?

[kllyjansen]

I've been keeping chickens for about 6 years and, until recently, never had a broody hen. I was so excited when one of my blue laced red wyandottes set a clutch of eggs back in June. And then...

... another BLRW went broody, and then my Buff Orpington, and then the first BLRW finished raising her chicks and went in for round 2, and NOW I have two Copper Marans fighting over a nest they want to set. I have chicks coming out of my ears.

I don't really mind. I've had buyers for the chicks and it's been fun to watch. But I am curious about the behavior. Some of these hens I have had for a couple years and they never went broody until now. Does broody behavior infect the flock?

 

[sourland]

I have never felt that it did, but 5 year old hens going broody for the first time is difficult to explain.

 

[Kylo_Hen!]

no it dose not the hen simply wants to hatch a clutch of chicks

 

[Chickassan]

It is contagious around here, I wish it wasn't but it is. It is always the dang faverolles, never fails one goes they all go. It may just be the breed that is nutty in my case.

 

[RWise]

I dont see it here, in fact I use an incubator because mine are never broody. The old gal 8 YO now, has been broody 1 time, I was eggcited and gave her all the eggs I had without checking anything, and she raised 1 chick out of those 4 eggs. She is a Blue Ameraucana, said to be full blood show stock. My flock are EEs,,,

 

[kllyjansen]

I dont see it here, in fact I use an incubator because mine are never broody. The old gal 8 YO now, has been broody 1 time, I was eggcited and gave her all the eggs I had without checking anything, and she raised 1 chick out of those 4 eggs. She is a Blue Ameraucana, said to be full blood show stock. My flock are EEs,,,

Yeah, I have had to incubate all my eggs until this year. 6 years without a broody hen and suddenly I have 5 broody hens ages 1-3 years. That's half the hens in my flock!

These broody hens have hatched 8-12 chicks each. In fact, I took several eggs away from the latest broody hens so they only have 4 eggs each. It's a little out of control!

 

[Cellomama2]

I have same issue that if one goes broody multiples will try to join her. Most I've let it get to is three at once because I don't have anymore jail space than that. Some I can just go to the coop multiple times a day and keep kicking them out but most of the time they have to go to jail. I'm sure it depends on the breed too.