Is being broody an individual impulse or a seasonal thing?

[IamRainey]

I've got 6 hens: a Golden-laced Wyandotte, 2 Orpingtons, a Cream Legbar, a Partidge Plymoth Rock and a Sicilian Buttercup.

I know the Orpingtons should get broody. My Partridge Plymouth Rock did last year when there were no fertilized eggs to provide a point for it. Don't know about the brooding tendencies of the rest of them...

This year I've got a roo who's been all over a number of my girls so I'd loooove someone to go broody and hatch me some chicks! But no sign of it yet.

I'm in SoCal where my order for new chicks (who would have come next week) was cancelled by the hatchery due to vND. So a broody hen is my only hope. SoCal also has a mild climate where we've been at peak laying for 6 weeks or so now. So what's it gonna take for one of the girls to get herself in a family way?

 

[m1marin]

So what's it gonna take for one of the girls to get herself in a family way?

It'll just happen on its own. From what I know, the lengthening days and increase in daylight hours triggers a hen's hormones to start laying and to also go broody. Some breeds are known for being broody and others are not. It can also depend on the individual hen. Some are habitualy broody, and some just never do it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So what's it gonna take for one of the girls to get herself in a family way?

Luck. You can't make a hen go broody. When they do it is often not at a convenient time. Some breeds tend to go broody more than others, but that does not mean that every hen of that breed will ever go broody. Buff Orps are supposed to go broody a lot but my two never did. I've had hens that were not supposed to go broody be some of my dependable broodies. Usually if a hen goes broody once she will again but you never know when. While hens can go broody any time of the year, mine tend to go broody more in late spring and the heat of summer than early spring or the fall.

You do have another option though. Get an incubator. That way you have control over when and if you were willing to raise them from a hatchery surely you can raise chicks you hatch.

 

[starri33]

None of my girls show the slightest interest in going broody, so I incubate.. have done 6 hatches now with no problem. Average hatch rate has been 5 out of 6 eggs set.

 

[IamRainey]

Yeah, I realize an incubator is an option. But I'm a sorta Earth Mother with attention deficit so think the hens will do a much better job than I will. Plus, I like the idea that a hen, once she's brooded chicks, will protect them in the flock.

Six laying hens give us all the eggs we need and then some! And they're still pretty young -- the oldest are only 2yo. I'm not really desperate for chicks yet. I was disappointed that my order got cancelled but I'll get over it. My primary goal right now is to replace my aggressive Black Copper Marans roo with one with nicer manners. And, always, to get more color and diversity in my flock. So, if one of my girls gets the notion, I'll be glad and hopeful. Otherwise, I'll be waiting for the vND quarantine to be lifted and the hatchery to be able to fill my next order.

 

[starri33]

Yeah, I realize an incubator is an option. But I'm a sorta Earth Mother with attention deficit so think the hens will do a much better job than I will. Plus, I like the idea that a hen, once she's brooded chicks, will protect them in the flock.

Six laying hens give us all the eggs we need and then some! And they're still pretty young -- the oldest are only 2yo. I'm not really desperate for chicks yet. I was disappointed that my order got cancelled but I'll get over it. My primary goal right now is to replace my aggressive Black Copper Marans roo with one with nicer manners. And, always, to get more color and diversity in my flock. So, if one of my girls gets the notion, I'll be glad and hopeful. Otherwise, I'll be waiting for the vND quarantine to be lifted and the hatchery to be able to fill my next order.

For Roo replacement, you might check with some of the BYC'ers near you and see if they might have one.

 

[IamRainey]

For Roo replacement, you might check with some of the BYC'ers near you and see if they might have one.

Thanks for that thought.
As I said, I'm in the vND quarantine zone. I wouldn't take a bird from anywhere outside my own disease-free coop. My cranky roo has bad manners but he's healthy and the best bet I have for more disease-free babies. If I get a little cockerel he can get replaced. But for now I'm sticking with a bird I KNOW is safe!

 

[starri33]

Thanks for that thought.
As I said, I'm in the vND quarantine zone. I wouldn't take a bird from anywhere outside my own disease-free coop. My cranky roo has bad manners but he's healthy and the best bet I have for more disease-free babies. If I get a little cockerel he can get replaced. But for now I'm sticking with a bird I KNOW is safe!

Understand that, I'm watching where the VND goes.. I'm in AZ and right now it's not close to me.. I'd hate to have to cull my entire flock, will do so if I have too, but don't want too.