I need help from the broody magicians of BYC!

[fluffycrow]

Broodies can be fickle and a crap shoot.
People who want broodies often don't get them.
People who don't want them often have too many.

I had 5 hens go broody last year, at one point there were 3 at the same time.
It was a PITA as I didn't want to hatch chicks.

Several years ago I had a broody I let hatch in March, then she went broody 7 more times.
I broke her over and over again, finally gave her away and she never went broody again.

Yup, I've found this to be very true. I really want some broodies, I've never had one. Other people cry at the sight of a broody, and have them constantly. It's a little comical if you think about it, but I'm starting to get a little annoyed because I've been trying for some years now

 

[Chicken poppy]

Yup, I've found this to be very true. I really want some broodies, I've never had one. Other people cry at the sight of a broody, and have them constantly. It's a little comical if you think about it, but I'm starting to get a little annoyed because I've been trying for some years now

You’ll get one soon.

I think each one is a blessing, really. Even if i get a bit annoyed with it at times, i try thinking about how wonderful it is for them to be so devoted, enough to sit on a nest for almost a month for baby chicks.

It will happen when you least expect it, thats for sure!

 

[fluffycrow]

You’ll get one soon.

I think each one is a blessing, really. Even if i get a bit annoyed with it at times, i try thinking about how wonderful it is for them to be so devoted, enough to sit on a nest for almost a month for baby chicks.

It will happen when you least expect it, thats for sure!

I definitely think they're a blessing too, just one I've not been lucky enough to have

 

[Chicken poppy]

I definitely think they're a blessing too, just one I've not been lucky enough to have

After all the chickens i’ve had i’ve only gotten a few that have been devoted enough to hatch eggs. Or, only the ones i don’t want broody.
An example would be i want my tiny chicken to be broody because i can’t give tiny eggs to the biggest chicken, that biggest chicken won’t stop going broody and i can’t let her hatch. Tiny one never goes broody. I’m sure you’ll get one soon, it took a while for me to get one too. About a year. They kept doing what i call a “fake out” they would go broody, then after a day abandon the nest. After a month of doing this after every egg laying, they stayed longer each time and eventually went real broody.

 

[fluffycrow]

After all the chickens i’ve had i’ve only gotten a few that have been devoted enough to hatch eggs. Or, only the ones i don’t want broody.
An example would be i want my tiny chicken to be broody because i can’t give tiny eggs to the biggest chicken, that biggest chicken won’t stop going broody and i can’t let her hatch. Tiny one never goes broody. I’m sure you’ll get one soon, it took a while for me to get one too. About a year. They kept doing what i call a “fake out” they would go broody, then after a day abandon the nest. After a month of doing this after every egg laying, they stayed longer each time and eventually went real broody.

I've been actively trying for 5 years, been keeping chickens for 11. So I've definitely gotten used to waiting! Hopefully this is my lucky year

 

[fluffycrow]

So sorry to hear that, i’m going to tell you what helped mine become broody and maybe it can do the same for yours.

Good temps: mine did NOT like to go anywhere that was to hot or to cold and one of mine actually broke from the nest when it became to cold.

Favorite spots: The first step for me was developing a spot they like. They won’t go broody if they don’t like the nest, so try figuring out somewhere they might like. Even if it isn’t the darkest or the best looking to you, if they like it, thats all that matters. Mine have ALWAYS gone broody in their favorite spot and never anywhere else, even if those other spots were darker or easier to access.

Near food: Mine typically like to be near food and not super far away, especially for when they get off the nest to eat. Mine occasionally quit if food was to far.

Safe: All of mine went broody in a safe area, usually secluded, and typically not a popular nesting spot. (Though that can depend!) but a broody hen might leave if its to popular between the hens. If its to noisy and chaotic where the nests are, maybe thats the problem?

Clutch: Chickens know if the eggs are fake. Mine refused to touch a fake egg, and sometimes would karate fling it with their beak, so try using real eggs.

Breed: If all of this fails, it is probably your breed and you might want different chickens.

Best of luck! Mine didn’t go broody with their first year either and sometimes it takes a while for them to get started.

What if the girls have enough nest boxes but only use one? So drama does stir up near the nest box, but it's the only one they use! Pretty much all the other boxes are checked

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Put me in the ‘too many’ camp.

Barred Rocks….. broody
Rhode Island…… broody
RIR/Barred Rock sexlinks…… broody at 8 months (and successfully raised a batch)


They’re a royal pain. 1-2 Broody birds out of 17 is more than enough.

 

[fluffycrow]

Put me in the ‘too many’ camp.

Barred Rocks….. broody
Rhode Island…… broody
RIR/Barred Rock sexlinks…… broody at 8 months (and successfully raised a batch)


They’re a royal pain. 1-2 Broody birds out of 17 is more than enough.

I'd rather have a lot of broodies rather than none honestly

 

[SueT]

I have 4 different hens who are persistent broodies. But they never go broody at this time of year here. I looked at my records, and the earliest didn’t start until April, some later. I’m not sure about your climate/length of day, but I’d say give them until summer before giving up on them.

 

[fluffycrow]

I have 4 different hens who are persistent broodies. But they never go broody at this time of year here. I looked at my records, and the earliest didn’t start until April, some later. I’m not sure about your climate/length of day, but I’d say give them until summer before giving up on them.

I live in Greece, so it gets hot super early, today the weather was around 17°C (62F I believe)