Encouraging to Brood

[kesrchicky16]

As far as I'm concerned there ARE a couple things you can do to encourage broodiness.

Adequate nutrition, safe shelter (not too much kid or predator commotion), and plenty of space. Beyond that, yep it's hormonal. My girls will sit on NO eggs. They don't HAVE to collect a clutch. But for some a clutch will trigger the instinct... if they already have it.

IMHO nutrition is the reason WHY I have so many broody's mid winter. Back in nature they only hatch chicks when food supply is readily available. It's available every day here... and NOT diminished by low nutrient "treats".

I was trying to figure out why I have 8 Britons out of 21 right now. I marked my buff Orpington and realized they were all rotating through sitting and biting me. My polish is even broody. I told her forget it you can't even cover 2 eggs. LOL

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I was trying to figure out why I have 8 Britons out of 21 right now. I marked my buff Orpington and realized they were all rotating through sitting and biting me. My polish is even broody. I told her forget it you can't even cover 2 eggs. LOL

Broodiness also seems to be contagious! Often leading to many at the same time.

Talk about confusion for some of the chicks when I three blue (I thought black back then) Silkies were raising broods at the same time. But there was no confusing the mama's, they quickly peck the stranger baby away from them. Who would then quickly find it's real mama.

 

[ambe0487]

YES!!!!! @kesrchicky16 That is exactly how my broody’s have been over the last season.

 

[ambe0487]

@kesrchicky16 it certainly is contagious!
@EggSighted4Life I had 3 all black ones hatch at the same time and two would take in any of the 10 babies (8 Poochins and 2 EEs) but my bit$h frizzle wouldn't take the two EE’s as they didn’t look like the other 8. She would take all of the 8 at any time but would chase the others out.