How many times will a hen go boody?

[sara]

I don't have much experience with broody hens. I have always hatched in and incubator. How many times a year will a hen go broody?

 

[jimnjay]

Lots! It is like anything else involving chickens depends on the breed and the individual. Most of mine are on their second hatch this year. I have three Salmon Faverolle Bantams and only one has gone broody once. Silkie, OEGB and Cochins seem to go broody frequently. Mine have been able to lay about 30 days and then are broody again.

 

[panner123]

I would say between 7 and 9. The trick is to get the chicks away from the hen as soon as possible. She will start laying again and go broody.

 

[hinkjc]

Well, with some of my girls the question is better asked "how many times will they NOT go broody" because they are always broody.

I tried blocking the nest boxes because they were always in there clucking.....then they laid eggs on top of it and went broody, so put bricks all over on it to keep them off...then they laid them on the floor and have found a new nesting area in the corner. 3 out of 4 in that breeding pen are always broody, so I gave up and gave them a pile of eggs to sit on. Maybe if they have chicks they'll stop this nonsense.

It's hard to see how your breeding pen is coming along if they only lay 1 or 2 eggs and start brooding already. UGH.

Jody

 

[sara]

Ok, thanks! I wasn't sure. I did take the chicks away now, and i think I will put her back in with the rest of the chickens and see if she sits again. I only have one hen that goes broody. What is a good breed to buy for this purpose? Most of mine are RIR, sex-links, barred rocks, and then I have this bantam hen that sits, I have no idea what she is.

 

[jimnjay]

If you can delay your hen from going broody in rapid succession it would be a good idea. I always leave my girls with the babies untill they start to run them off. Being broody is a huge drain on your birds so it is best to give them a chance to build themselves up again before the next hatch. JMHO

 

[sara]

Ok. I just took the chicks from her, they were several weeks old. Currently she is free ranging around with a bantam rooster. The rest of my chickens are penned up because my hubby reseeded a lot of our yard. Hopefully she wont go broody and can get a rest then, I don't know if she even lays anymore because the chicks she hatched definately aren't hers. I bought her at a sale cause I thought she was cute.

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

I have a year old hen that has gone broody twice this year. She is a gamebird and has had great hatch rates-99%.

 

[kritrkz]

One of my Ameraucana hens has been broody the last few weeks. In the past I've let broody hens hatch their own eggs & then put small mesh around the bottom of the runs to keep the chicks from getting out where the dogs can get them, with limited success. They're experts at finding small holes.
Would you advise taking newly hatched eggs & setting them up in a separate enclosure as I do when buying small chicks? I'd really love to let nature take it's course as sure many free range chickens must manage to successfully raise young.