How often does a chicken go broody??

[ufgrad98]

I have a buff orprington that just turned 1 year old last week. She went broody in January, then again on April 1st, and now today. The first two times, I separated her and put her in a cage with a wire bottom for three days and she got over it. But, it has happened again today. We live in the city and can't have any more than 4 chickens (which is what we have now), so I don't want to give her fertilized eggs to hatch. I also don't really have room to separate her constantly (once in a while it will be fine, but not on a monthly basis). Is this normal to go broody this often?? Will it continue to be like this? I have someone that is willing to take her but my kids are so sad to be giving her away since this was our first year raising chickens. Any thoughts?

 

[SweetSilver]

This sounds like my BO. Broody every chance she gets. Ours couldn't possibly give us all the eggs we eat, so I gave up trying to stop her broodiness. After 2 years we did let her hatch out a clutch of eggs, and she hasn't been broody since. Coincidence? Hmmmmmm......... The broodiness had gotten so bad, if she started to lay I would suspect her on the verge of broodiness, and often, sure enough, 9 days later..........

 

[wbruder17]

My Silkies go broody about every other month. I will give them eggs, they will hatch and raise them, go back to being normal for a few weeks, then back to broody. I have 3 broodies right now, with 1 on a nest that just hatched. So 4 birds out of egg laying comission.

Other hens dont go broody at all. Just depends on the bird.

 

[sourland]

I have had hens (of broody breeds) brood and raise 4 or more lots of chicks in a years time.