Hens broody with no rooster?

[2newcomers]

Just wondering if hens will get broody if there is no man in their lives. This broody business is nerve wracking! One hen has been sitting there for 3 1/2 weeks and I am getting concerned about her. Another hen has joined her in the same box and I worry that if we get any little ones, they will smother and/or the hens will fight over them. (second posting about this, as I forgot to add the rooster question.)

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Yes, even without a rooster, hens can go broody. It is just a hormonal thing. My hens usually snap out of it by about 4 weeks. If you search "break broody" you will get some ideas about how stop your hen's brooding. If that one who has been brooding for 3 plus weeks doesn't come out of it soon you may want to consider encouraging her to stop.

So you are thinking of getting chicks? Not all broodies want chicks that did not hatch from their eggs, but I have read about some people who succeeded in introducing chicks to the broody who became a good mom. I don't know if two broodies would fight over chicks, but I don't think they would likely smother them.

 

[2newcomers]

Thank you for your reply. Good to know. I think we will give her another day or two. We did buy 3 newborns from Meyer Hatchery, thinking we would try to get her to adopt them, but now are attached to them and don't want to risk their lives! Besides, we spent a lot on these little ones!! So we will have them in a nursery within the enclosed space where the rest are and introduce them more gradually, when they are big enough to be out of their warm home.