- Dec 12, 2013
- 190
- 51
- 80
Hello Mrs. FitzDarcy,
Okay here is the typical scenario with respect to pullet/hen husbandry. The young pullet first begins laying when coming into adulthood. The initiation of laying (ovulation) varies somewhat with age, nutrition, access to a nest box, day length, breed, or strain within a breed and to some extent with respect to the bird's sense of security. As the day period grows shorter the light entering the eye is less each successive day. This triggers the hypothalamus to cause the ovaries to become less active resulting in fewer eggs and often a brief period when no eggs are produced at all for varying lengths of time. The main point to remember is that birds, not just chickens, generally lay better when the day(light) period is on the increase or are in their longer cycle. And it may take a few weeks for laying to begin. The point to remember is that a period of egg production almost always precedes broodiness. It is a rational biological principle that one does not go broody until after the laying period has arrived and one has produced a clutch of eggs. There is evidence that in the chicken, at least, the number of eggs pressing against the breast of the layer reaches a set point typical of that individual bird and very shortly she becomes broody. Once a hen goes broody her attitude change is radical and swift. She suddenly starts a constant fairly low volume staccato of little clucks accompanied by being anti-social to all comers She slowly paces about with feathers erectile reminding one of a back alley bully spoiling for a fight. They become almost totally fearless. They will often readily attack the hand that feeds. This radical personality change is unmistakeable! Some silkies are triggered by a nest of 8 eggs and another is triggered into broodiness by 10, or 12. Larger breeds generally have higher set points. Whatever it is for a particular bird is a genetically set point that stays much the same for that particular bird. I have had silkies that I could trigger at will by simply giving her a quiet place, with nest box, of course, and after giving her her set point number of eggs she would go broody sometimes as little as 36 hours later. A very few of my birds would be broody as a ding bat in 24 hours. Once broodiness occurs no more egg laying takes place until after her clutch is incubated and the chicks are hatched and reared. Only after the babies are "weaned" and are on their own does the hen start laying again. And the cycle repeats itself. This can wear out a hen so it is generally advisable to take away her next set of eggs as she begins laying them for a couple of weeks at least. Also keep her away from the nest boxes of others for any eggs will suffice to set her off again. It matters not to a dedicated momma hen whose eggs they might be. By the same token, while she is incubating a clutch of eggs do not let other hens have access to her incubating eggs as they will upset matters by adding an egg or two here or there in the broody nest. This results in all sorts of chaos. Not all the eggs can be covered resulting in some original eggs being lost to chilling. It also can result in the newer eggs not being hatched at all. That is why I always isolate my broodies in a secure quiet place away from the backyard din. Being more secure they are also more likely to leave the nest once or twice a day to feed, drink and defecate. Now, having said all of that, there are occasional hens who are so inclined to go broody that they will go broody without reaching any set point. It seems a compulsion. This usually happens to the hen who has reared more than two or three broods of chicks. They become mad with motherhood. These remarks can apply to any breed of nominally broody type hen but is almost sure fire to include silkies and a few other breeds. Keep in mind that broodiness has been bred out of some breeds and strains. They will go broody when you know what freezes over! I hope this a help to all the newbies.
Neal, the Zooman
Okay here is the typical scenario with respect to pullet/hen husbandry. The young pullet first begins laying when coming into adulthood. The initiation of laying (ovulation) varies somewhat with age, nutrition, access to a nest box, day length, breed, or strain within a breed and to some extent with respect to the bird's sense of security. As the day period grows shorter the light entering the eye is less each successive day. This triggers the hypothalamus to cause the ovaries to become less active resulting in fewer eggs and often a brief period when no eggs are produced at all for varying lengths of time. The main point to remember is that birds, not just chickens, generally lay better when the day(light) period is on the increase or are in their longer cycle. And it may take a few weeks for laying to begin. The point to remember is that a period of egg production almost always precedes broodiness. It is a rational biological principle that one does not go broody until after the laying period has arrived and one has produced a clutch of eggs. There is evidence that in the chicken, at least, the number of eggs pressing against the breast of the layer reaches a set point typical of that individual bird and very shortly she becomes broody. Once a hen goes broody her attitude change is radical and swift. She suddenly starts a constant fairly low volume staccato of little clucks accompanied by being anti-social to all comers She slowly paces about with feathers erectile reminding one of a back alley bully spoiling for a fight. They become almost totally fearless. They will often readily attack the hand that feeds. This radical personality change is unmistakeable! Some silkies are triggered by a nest of 8 eggs and another is triggered into broodiness by 10, or 12. Larger breeds generally have higher set points. Whatever it is for a particular bird is a genetically set point that stays much the same for that particular bird. I have had silkies that I could trigger at will by simply giving her a quiet place, with nest box, of course, and after giving her her set point number of eggs she would go broody sometimes as little as 36 hours later. A very few of my birds would be broody as a ding bat in 24 hours. Once broodiness occurs no more egg laying takes place until after her clutch is incubated and the chicks are hatched and reared. Only after the babies are "weaned" and are on their own does the hen start laying again. And the cycle repeats itself. This can wear out a hen so it is generally advisable to take away her next set of eggs as she begins laying them for a couple of weeks at least. Also keep her away from the nest boxes of others for any eggs will suffice to set her off again. It matters not to a dedicated momma hen whose eggs they might be. By the same token, while she is incubating a clutch of eggs do not let other hens have access to her incubating eggs as they will upset matters by adding an egg or two here or there in the broody nest. This results in all sorts of chaos. Not all the eggs can be covered resulting in some original eggs being lost to chilling. It also can result in the newer eggs not being hatched at all. That is why I always isolate my broodies in a secure quiet place away from the backyard din. Being more secure they are also more likely to leave the nest once or twice a day to feed, drink and defecate. Now, having said all of that, there are occasional hens who are so inclined to go broody that they will go broody without reaching any set point. It seems a compulsion. This usually happens to the hen who has reared more than two or three broods of chicks. They become mad with motherhood. These remarks can apply to any breed of nominally broody type hen but is almost sure fire to include silkies and a few other breeds. Keep in mind that broodiness has been bred out of some breeds and strains. They will go broody when you know what freezes over! I hope this a help to all the newbies.
Neal, the Zooman
