I need help from the broody magicians of BYC!

[fluffycrow]

I have shared a little of this on the broody hen thread, but I felt like I was taking up way too much space for my personal problems, so I thought I'd create a thread instead. Now, I've been keeping chickens long enough to know you can't force broodyness. That being said, certain people have claimed some things help with encouraging it, all or most of which I've tried. But here is basically what has happened the last 2 years. The summer of 2021 I got 9 one month old pullets of a Greek landrace breed specifically raised for free range and brooodyness. Last summer, none went broody, but it could have been that they just turned 1 year old. I found a hen from a flock that regularly goes broody, and she was broody when I got her. Usually, broodies that are moved don't stay broody for long, but she did for two more weeks. The eggs were developing, and I kept a very close eye as her condition wasn't the greatest. At the two week mark she broke, and one week later escaped her pen and got stolen. That birds was most likely a mix of some sort, I'm thinking of a Tsouloufati, which is the breed my landrace hens are. But unlike the mix, not a single one has followed her footsteps. Last year I tried leaving eggs in the nest, didn't work. This year I've made better nest boxes, that are also placed in a darker area of the coop (I actually followed a BYC article to make these, and the girls love them, so thank you!) So now I come to you for help. I have a (supposedly) broody breed, and I've tried the regular techniques for encouraging broodyness, with no success whatsoever. Over the last 2 months I've learned how much knowledge this forum has, so this is truly the best place for me to ask for help. If any of you have any ideas, or know (or are) of any broody magicians, I'd really appreciate some help. The first photo is from the broody I got from the other flock, and the rest are from my hens

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

In my experience hens go broody when they would have the most success. Plentiful resources and low stress. Is there some thing that is limited that would matter to a mama hen? Do you have a bully in the flock or lots of predators around?

Also, I never had a broody who didn’t go broody their first summer as an adult. If yours have never gone broody and that’s something you value, I would seriously think about getting some new chickens.

 

[fluffycrow]

Also, I'd like to say that searching up the breeds I've mentioned above might not be too fruitful. The only results you might get are of some threads from here on BYC, and that's because they're posts I wrote of these chickens. Outside of Greece they'res not really anyone aware of these breeds existence, so they're not well documented. And yes, I've covered most of the points on the broody thread as well, but I felt a little bit too much of a nuisance taking all that space to write about my problems, so I feel more comfortable having my own thread to discuss my problems

 

[fluffycrow]

In my experience hens go broody when they would have the most success. Plentiful resources and low stress. Is there some thing that is limited that would matter to a mama hen? Do you have a bully in the flock or lots of predators around?

Also, I never had a broody who didn’t go broody their first summer as an adult. If yours have never gone broody and that’s something you value, I would seriously think about getting some new chickens.

We had a few fox encounters late spring last year, but not much after that. They definitely don't have limited resources, and no bullies in the flock, but they do live with ISA browns, who are a little more dramatic, but that's about it. I wouldn't say I have bullies in the flock, but if a hen gets singled out, she's done. One ISA brown got singled out last year, and due to some other things, she still can't be with them

 

[fluffycrow]

The only thing I'd really consider as an added stressor would be the nest box situation? Last year they only used two nest boxes, and this year mostly one, so could that be considered stressful? But it's not like they don't have the option to lay somewhere else, the have about two to three more unused nest boxes

 

[fluffycrow]

Maybe I could try a different material? The only thing I've ever used is hay. Ugh I don't know I'm probably going crazy

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

If you have the recommended 1 nesting box per 4 hens, and the recommend coop and run spacing (4 sq-ft of coop and 10 sq-ft of run per chicken) then I doubt it’s anything to do with your set up. Bedding won’t matter if a chicken wants to be a mama, mine have nested in leaves, hay, pine shavings, or dirt according to their whims.

I think your chickens aren’t interested in being broody. Perhaps you could find another couple of previously-broody hens to add to your flock.

 

[fluffycrow]

If you have the recommended 1 nesting box per 4 hens, and the recommend coop and run spacing (4 sq-ft of coop and 10 sq-ft of run per chicken) then I doubt it’s anything to do with your set up. Bedding won’t matter if a chicken wants to be a mama, mine have nested in leaves, hay, pine shavings, or dirt according to their whims.

I think your chickens aren’t interested in being broody. Perhaps you could find another couple of previously-broody hens to add to your flock.

I tried that with the hen I mentioned, but she was basically bald, and VERY wild. So I'm not sure I'd like to do that again. I'm constantly on the lookout for hens of a broody breed/lineage but it's not the easiest thing in the world. Here everyone is content with their ISA browns

 

[Sussex19]

I think you may need new chickens!
With mine, never mind what I do, they will go broody, nothing seems to discourage them.
If you have done everything right, then it must be the hens?

 

[fluffycrow]

I think you may need new chickens!
With mine, never mind what I do, they will go broody, nothing seems to discourage them.
If you have done everything right, then it must be the hens?

It's not the answer I want to hear, but it's probably the truth. Oh well, they're good egg layers so I'll definitely keep them, they're wonderful at free ranging as well