How broody are Easter Eggers?

[RAREROO]

I've was talking to Krys about how we'd like to use broody hens to set are rare breed eggs instead of using an incubator, we both know silkies are superior broodies but their small size only allows them to set a small number of eggs at a time, so we are planning to cross silkies with other broody LF breeds to hopefully produce hen with the great tendency towards broodiness like the silkies, but with larger size. Krys is planning on useing her Marans and I have some EE hens that have just started laying that I could use. Since I have never had any adult EEs, I don't know how broody they tend to be, I have heard they are decent broodies and I know it can depend on the particular bird, but what about the breed in general?

Also do you think a my Silkie roo can breed an EE hen or should I use the EE roo on the silkie hens or will it matter?

If anyone has any pics of Silkies crossed with EEs, BRs, Orps, Wyan. or really any other LF breed, I'd love to see them.

Thanks

 

[RAREROO]

This is my bantam hen that is Silkie crossed with Brahma or Cochin I think. She's a good broody and I am hoping to get something like her, just in a larger size. Those are BC Marans chicks she hatched.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

My silkie roos breed with my EE hens all the time and have NOOOO trouble at all! I have quite a few of their offspring. Here's one:

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Can't answer you generally...but I have 2 EE hens that have never gone broody and are 1 1/2 years old.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Thanks, she looks bantam sized, is she? was the mother EE a bantam or LF? Is she laying yet? are the eggs green/blue ?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

only one of all of my EE's and Ameraucanas has ever gone broody and she left the nest around day 15. I think maybe if you crossed them with a silkie you might do better . . . maybe. Aren't cochins broody?

 

[Goose and Fig]

I think you should stick with your original silkie x cochin- but use LF cochin instead of bantam. That might extend you hatching season a bit too.

 

[RAREROO]

Thanks I have heard that cochins are broody but I don't have any personally don't really care for them. I wouldn't mind having a few blues if I come across some cheap ones at our local livestock sale, there was a nice pair of Mille Fluer Cochins in the auction section last saturday but I didn't have any extra money or time to wait for the auction to start. I do plan to have a mixed broody pen so I may put a few cochins in there later on. We'll see thanks again

 

[Chickndaddy]

My EE's weren't particularly broody.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Thanks but I didn't cross that hen I have, I bought her as an adult and I do not want LF cochins, I just wanted to use EEs because I already have them and they are just starting to lay now and my Silikes should be laying and breeding soon. I also have Barred Rocks and Speckled Sussex ,but I prefer to keep them pure though I may try a SS roo on a silkie hen.