How many times can a chicken brood?

[jenangelcat]

In a row. My barred rock was broody for about a month before we gave up trying to deter her and gave her some eggs to hatch. Yesterday she was done and we put her back with the flock. Today I see she's back in the nest box acting all broody.

Can I put more eggs under her?

 

[hippiehen]

What do you mean by "done?" As in she raised the chicks?

 

[jenangelcat]

They hatched on Saturday and we sold them all.

 

[krcote]

I think selling the chicks has caused her to head back to the nest. Giving her the time to raise a brood would more likely keep her off the nest longer.

 

[callahanfarmgirl]

krcote is right!!! I have a RIR that has gone broody twice in the past 6 months. The 1st time I gave her 10 eggs & only 4 hatched. I let her brood them for about 6 weeks in a seperate coop but then 2 months later she went broody on me again. I gave her 4 eggs this time & 2 hatched. They are now 2 weeks old & I am making her do everything as natural as I possibly can. All my chickens are free range during the day so a few days ago I opened her cage & her & her chicks are free ranging all day. So she is responsible for their protection, food, & taking them to the water bowls. She can get back in her cage anytime but so for they are loving it & she is actually doing a good job protecting them.

I hope all this work she is doing will settle her broodiness for a while.

You could try & get 2 chicks that are only a few days old & sneek them in the nest box with her at night!!!!!!!

 

[Illia]

The broodiest of breeds out there will start again about 2-3 weeks after the chicks are gone or weaned off. However, for common breeds and strains of Barred Rocks and the sort, she may not go broody again until next year.