how often will hens go broody?

[terrilhb]

I would not know.

Mine won't do it so far. They are RIR's.

 

[BooBear]

My Wyandottes are pretty broodie. Managed to break some only for them to go broody all over again. Only have 1 laying hen that is not broody out of them.
Good news is my Silkie girls just started laying their first eggs. So far they have not caught the bug.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
There's always next week.

 

[queenbeezz]

I have two Bantam Cochins who are sisters. They will sit side by side nests, hatch the chicks within a couple days of each other, raise that bunch together and start all over again! They don't care who lays in the nests, they'll sit. I have a silkie who contributes to their nests every time. She never sits. The girls are also known for stealing nests of the other hens. They are great mothers.

A couple months ago one of the kids got the bright idea to stick a goose egg under one of the girls, she sat on it, hatched and raised the gosling. Between the girls they had 8 chicks of various breeds and a gosling. It was quite funny when he went swimming in the pond the first time. She stood on the bank squawking at him.

 

[mandelyn]

Never. Once a year. 3 times a year. 24/7.

Depends on the chicken. I have a young Maran who seems to be thinking about it, but not seriously. She takes her time laying and gets all huffy if you want the egg, as tame as she is. The rest are in and out all business like. She started out that way too... but now... she may be getting ideas. Jokes on her if she tries, she's getting ducks.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

 

[itsy]

Quote:
This story made me laugh! Adorable.

 

[Cadjien_De_Louisiane]

yea pretty much when ever they want.. To brake them I put one at a time in a 30"x30"x18"high cage of the ground. With a wire bottom. No nesting box and the cool air on there breast I believe is what breaks them when I want them to start laying..

 

[BooBear]

Quote:
There's always next week.

now you hush! That is the last thing I need.

 

[sourland]

do a little dance

n sing a little song

walla

Boobear, you did want broodies, right? Sourland----the Broody Magician