French Wheaten Marans broody??

[ODY GIRL]

Hi! My first post, so I hope I am doing this right. My flock of 14 hens, and one rooster just turned 6 months old. They are super healthy, and active. My Australorps, and my French Wheaten Marans have been laying eggs for two weeks. Today, my, WM, Eloise, has been on the nest ALL DAY!!! I have had chickens before this group, and have experience with broody hens. I got her egg out from under, but she grabbed the fake eggs that were in that part of nest that drops down. She was really POed I took her egg, and exhibited the growling behaviors. Is this possible that at the tender age of 6mos she could possibly be wanting to be a mom?? Maybe I should have a talk with my rooster, Reginald the Handsome! What are your thoughts on the possibilities here??

 

[WingItRanch]

Reginald is innocent! A hen or pullet will go broody with or without a rooster.

I wouldn't call her officially broody yet. She may just want some alone time or maybe isn't feel well. If she sleeps in the nest box all night and is still there tomorrow, I'd call her broody then.

Oh and yes, chickens can go broody at a young age. My 6 month pullet is currently tending 3 babies she hatched. I call her a teen mom. Ha!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi! My first post, so I hope I am doing this right. My flock of 14 hens, and one rooster just turned 6 months old. They are super healthy, and active. My Australorps, and my French Wheaten Marans have been laying eggs for two weeks. Today, my, WM, Eloise, has been on the nest ALL DAY!!! I have had chickens before this group, and have experience with broody hens. I got her egg out from under, but she grabbed the fake eggs that were in that part of nest that drops down. She was really POed I took her egg, and exhibited the growling behaviors. Is this possible that at the tender age of 6mos she could possibly be wanting to be a mom?? Maybe I should have a talk with my rooster, Reginald the Handsome! What are your thoughts on the possibilities here??

My dingbat Barred Rock went broody early too, and she's my least productive layer of the three old enough to lay.

Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Yes, they can go broody at that age. I was surprised, as well. Some of my pullets started going broody at about 5 months, shortly after laying. And went broody a second or even a third time within months of first going broody (soft broody for some, full blown broody for others)
They're currently 10 months.

Generally not recommended for pullets to set, hatch, or raise chicks. But I did hatch some of the eggs close to full size, and my birds did well.
Some of them didn't get the chance to raise chicks, but some did. The ones that did were good moms. So I guess I lucked out. (I had things ready in case the chicks were abandoned)