How long until a hen goes broody again after successfully raising chicks

[5 Points Wingfeather]

We just had a our first broody and we really enjoyed the experience. About how long does it take for her to go broody again? I just want to be ready next time to give her the eggs that I want to give her rather than just the randoms she sat on.

 

[Fallenone05]

It depends on the chicken. Some go broody immediately after weaning their chicks and others are serial mothers where they continue taking care of their chicks for months instead of weeks.

Mine hasn't been broody since last August, but she's been tidbitting lately.

You don't want them to go broody too quickly after their sessions. Being a broody hen takes a lot out of them and they lose weight, and then sacrifice a lot of nutrients to their chicks by giving them food first. I've had Brahma hens brood really well and they lose so much weight. It's really noticable since they're so big.

 

[RcoM]

It depends on the chicken. Some go broody immediately after weaning their chicks and others are serial mothers where they continue taking care of their chicks for months instead of weeks.

Mine hasn't been broody since last August, but she's been tidbitting lately.

You don't want them to go broody too quickly after their sessions. Being a broody hen takes a lot out of them and they lose weight, and then sacrifice a lot of nutrients to their chicks by giving them food first. I've had Brahma hens brood really well and they lose so much weight. It's really noticable since they're so big.

I’m really grateful for this reply.

 

[MandyMusshafen]

We just had a our first broody and we really enjoyed the experience. About how long does it take for her to go broody again? I just want to be ready next time to give her the eggs that I want to give her rather than just the randoms she sat on.

We have a Silkie that hatched her 1 chick on 1/23/24. She just now (2 days ago) started acting broody again and went back to the nest! About 3 weeks ago she started letting her chick venture off from her but up until that point she was a helicopter mom! I'm going to put some marked eggs under her tomorrow (friday)!
I'm including pics from a couple weeks ago! The first is with the baby and it's dad! And the other is of my little bantam flock minus 1 other hen who is sitting on eggs due to hatch any day!!!