How often a year do hens go broody?

[SwampPrincessChick]

How often a year do hens go broody?

Some hens never go broody in their whole lifetime, mainly ones that belong to breeds known to rarely go broody. Since broodiness is considered not a good trait for many people, humans have worked to get that trait mostly out of breeds. An example is the Polish, that rarely goes broody. But keep in mind that even a breed like that can go broody—you cannot diminish all of their hormones, as chickens will be chickens. I had a Polish hen go broody once. In breeds that regularly go broody, you will likely find hens that incubate eggs more than once a year. Remember that this is not good for them because hens lose a lot of weight from sitting on the nest and only coming out once a day to eat a bit. If a hen goes broody continually, she will starve to death, and that is why broodiness is considered a fault. If you want to break a broody, you can place her in an uncomfortable cage. Yes, uncomfortable, she will not stop being broody if you make it too comfortable for her. That means putting her in a cage with nothing on the bottom, just metal for her to walk on and no other things to do besides eat, drink, and pace around. That will keep her mind off being broody and eventually break her.

Is it a seasonal thing? Since this is my first year raising chickens I'm wondering if this will occur every year?

Spring and summer are the best times to have chicks, as it has plentiful food and warm temperatures. That is when the hormones of females (both hens and pullets) rise and they are subject to go broody. Chickens can go broody at any time of the year but spring and summer are the most prominent broody times. It may happen every year, it may not, but it sounds like your chickens are being persistent broodies and likely will.

Do you want them to hatch eggs? Do you even have a male chicken? Eggs are obviously not going to hatch without a cockerel or a rooster mating with the females. If you want them to hatch a different breed that is not from your chickens then you can get eggs from a hatchery or breeder and put them under the broodies. They should take to the eggs and incubate them. Remember that not all chickens that go broody will be good broodies. Many of them stop during their broodiness and that is another reason why the broody trait is considered a fault—if you have some valuable hatching eggs, hatch them using an incubator, not a broody. Also remember that not all chickens that hatch eggs will be good to their chicks. I have seen so many hens hatch eggs and immediately start trying to kill her chicks. That is not often seen but all hens are different and have a big chance of not being nice to their chicks/not caring to take care of them.

 

[sourland]

I have had hens go broody 5 times a year raising that many broods of chicks.

 

[SueT]

I assume you have a rooster. The eggs that you eat, when you break them, check for the fertile bullseye on the yolk. If you're not sure, post a pic for us.
If all the eggs you check are fertile, then likely the eggs incubating are too.

 

[BackyardinWales]

There was a bullseye on several of my eggs recently, but we've been without a rooster for several weeks now.

If I get a rooster (and hopefully only one) then he'll stay. If more than one, there is someone in my area that rehomes them. But as is, we shall wait snd see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

 

[BackyardinWales]

But thank you all for your wise words and help. It's invaluable teaching, and learning for me.

 

[BackyardinWales]

This might be simple ... but if I put a partition in between the two girls (since it's a 'double berth') that should be okay, shouldn't it?

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

but we've been without a rooster for several weeks now.

A female's eggs can be fertilized for four weeks after getting mated by a male.

This might be simple ... but if I put a partition in between the two girls (since it's a 'double berth') that should be okay, shouldn't it?

Yes, that is okay. And it is good to do that if you want them to hatch eggs because the broody female might try to kill the chicks that hatch from the other broody female.

 

[fluffycrow]

Females can go broody quite a few times in a year. Some are content with one or two batches a year, during the standard breeding season. Others go broody all year round.

I tend to believe that a female knows when she's capable of going broody and when she's not. So far believing that a broody knows better than I do has worked well.


Having two two sitting at the same time can also be an opportunity for co-brooding; you'll know if your pullets will be up for it soon enough

 

[BackyardinWales]

Looks like broody pullet has abandoned the life of motherhood lol, but my hen is still sitting. She even left for breakfast when she knew I wasn't taking her babies away. This is certainly an interesting journey.

 

[fluffycrow]

Looks like broody pullet has abandoned the life of motherhood lol, but my hen is still sitting. She even left for breakfast when she knew I wasn't taking her babies away. This is certainly an interesting journey.

Good luck with her. Natural brooding has been an amazing journey I've been honoured of witnessing.

Sad that your pullet didn't stick, but as mentioned above, they know more about their bodies and capabilities than we ever will. I've found older pullets and broody raised pullets of any age to be reliable brooders, and so far, mothers