Is there a benefit to hens going broody?

[3KillerBs]

Ok Captain Obvious Let me rephrase - if I don’t want babies, and collect eggs daily, there wouldn’t be broody behavior? Or is that unavoidable, and does the presence of a rooster affect that? Go easy on me, honest questions

Hens' hormones tell them whether or not to go broody and when to stop -- though some *might* sit until they die.

Whether you find broodiness an advantage, an annoyance, or just one of those things that happen will depend on your goal for keeping chickens.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Hens' hormones tell them whether or not to go broody and when to stop -- though some *might* sit until they die.

Whether you find broodiness an advantage, an annoyance, or just one of those things that happen will depend on your goal for keeping chickens.

Thank you!

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Are you referring to a tendency to go into brood because of the presence of a rooster vs brood without a rooster?? They're less broody without having a rooster around but it still happens occasionally. Collecting the eggs daily helps as well too.

The rooster presence was what I was referring to, thank you for your response I’m just going back and forth about keeping my roosters, but I’m back to leaning towards rehoming them because I don’t want the drama for the hens. Thanks again!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is there a benefit for hens to go broody as far as their quality of life

Not as far as I'm concerned. Before a hen even starts to lay she adds additional fat. This extra fat is what she mostly lives off of while broody. That way she can stay on the nest and take care of the eggs instead of needing to look for food. Unless they stay broody for a very long time being broody does not hurt them. As far as taking a break from laying helping them, they take care of that when they molt. The numbers and size of eggs is to a certain extent related to what they eat. I don't see the going broody being detrimental to their health as long as things are "normal" but I also don't see it being beneficial.

is there a benefit to having a rooster with your girls as far as their quality of life,

Not with all of them as far as I'm concerned. A good rooster might perform certain duties (find them food, keep peace in the flock, break up fights, help take care of chicks, show them where to nest, or provide some protection or look out for danger) but not all roosters are good. Most mature roosters are good when mating a hen. Most does not mean all. Some roosters are brutes toward their hens, not just in mating. Often a dominant hen will assume some of these responsibilities if there is no dominant rooster in the flock. I don't see a rooster always benefiting the hens and can be a detriment. There are a lot of flocks out there with no roosters at all and the hens are quite content. Some people may not be happy without a rooster in their flock, I like one myself, but I'm trying to look from the hen's perspective, not mine. I believe that was your question.

if I don’t want babies, and collect eggs daily, there wouldn’t be broody behavior? Or is that unavoidable, and does the presence of a rooster affect that?

I do not believe the presence of a rooster causes or enhances broodiness. The absence of a rooster does not prevent broodiness. Inheritance has a big effect on whether a hen will go broody or not. Allowing eggs to pile up will not cause a hen to go broody, I've tried a few times and it never did work. Allowing the eggs to pile up may encourage one, not sure about that, but they will certainly go broody without them piling up.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Hens will go broody with or without a rooster, and with or without viable eggs (or even eggs at all). It's all hormonal, if their hormones tell them to go broody, it doesn't matter if the time of year is bad for it, if there's a pile of eggs, etc.

Breed can be a factor. Letting eggs pile up may increase the odds of getting a broody as well.

Thank you

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Hens' hormones tell them whether or not to go broody and when to stop -- though some *might* sit until they die.

Whether you find broodiness an advantage, an annoyance, or just one of those things that happen will depend on your goal for keeping chickens.

Thank you

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Not as far as I'm concerned. Before a hen even starts to lay she adds additional fat. This extra fat is what she mostly lives off of while broody. That way she can stay on the nest and take care of the eggs instead of needing to look for food. Unless they stay broody for a very long time being broody does not hurt them. As far as taking a break from laying helping them, they take care of that when they molt. The numbers and size of eggs is to a certain extent related to what they eat. I don't see the going broody being detrimental to their health as long as things are "normal" but I also don't see it being beneficial.


Not with all of them as far as I'm concerned. A good rooster might perform certain duties (find them food, keep peace in the flock, break up fights, help take care of chicks, show them where to nest, or provide some protection or look out for danger) but not all roosters are good. Most mature roosters are good when mating a hen. Most does not mean all. Some roosters are brutes toward their hens, not just in mating. Often a dominant hen will assume some of these responsibilities if there is no dominant rooster in the flock. I don't see a rooster always benefiting the hens and can be a detriment. There are a lot of flocks out there with no roosters at all and the hens are quite content. Some people may not be happy without a rooster in their flock, I like one myself, but I'm trying to look from the hen's perspective, not mine. I believe that was your question.


I do not believe the presence of a rooster causes or enhances broodiness. The absence of a rooster does not prevent broodiness. Inheritance has a big effect on whether a hen will go broody or not. Allowing eggs to pile up will not cause a hen to go broody, I've tried a few times and it never did work. Allowing the eggs to pile up may encourage one, not sure about that, but they will certainly go broody without them piling up.

Thank you

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Not as far as I'm concerned. Before a hen even starts to lay she adds additional fat. This extra fat is what she mostly lives off of while broody. That way she can stay on the nest and take care of the eggs instead of needing to look for food. Unless they stay broody for a very long time being broody does not hurt them. As far as taking a break from laying helping them, they take care of that when they molt. The numbers and size of eggs is to a certain extent related to what they eat. I don't see the going broody being detrimental to their health as long as things are "normal" but I also don't see it being beneficial.


Not with all of them as far as I'm concerned. A good rooster might perform certain duties (find them food, keep peace in the flock, break up fights, help take care of chicks, show them where to nest, or provide some protection or look out for danger) but not all roosters are good. Most mature roosters are good when mating a hen. Most does not mean all. Some roosters are brutes toward their hens, not just in mating. Often a dominant hen will assume some of these responsibilities if there is no dominant rooster in the flock. I don't see a rooster always benefiting the hens and can be a detriment. There are a lot of flocks out there with no roosters at all and the hens are quite content. Some people may not be happy without a rooster in their flock, I like one myself, but I'm trying to look from the hen's perspective, not mine. I believe that was your question.


I do not believe the presence of a rooster causes or enhances broodiness. The absence of a rooster does not prevent broodiness. Inheritance has a big effect on whether a hen will go broody or not. Allowing eggs to pile up will not cause a hen to go broody, I've tried a few times and it never did work. Allowing the eggs to pile up may encourage one, not sure about that, but they will certainly go broody without them piling up.

Thank you

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Not as far as I'm concerned. Before a hen even starts to lay she adds additional fat. This extra fat is what she mostly lives off of while broody. That way she can stay on the nest and take care of the eggs instead of needing to look for food. Unless they stay broody for a very long time being broody does not hurt them. As far as taking a break from laying helping them, they take care of that when they molt. The numbers and size of eggs is to a certain extent related to what they eat. I don't see the going broody being detrimental to their health as long as things are "normal" but I also don't see it being beneficial.


Not with all of them as far as I'm concerned. A good rooster might perform certain duties (find them food, keep peace in the flock, break up fights, help take care of chicks, show them where to nest, or provide some protection or look out for danger) but not all roosters are good. Most mature roosters are good when mating a hen. Most does not mean all. Some roosters are brutes toward their hens, not just in mating. Often a dominant hen will assume some of these responsibilities if there is no dominant rooster in the flock. I don't see a rooster always benefiting the hens and can be a detriment. There are a lot of flocks out there with no roosters at all and the hens are quite content. Some people may not be happy without a rooster in their flock, I like one myself, but I'm trying to look from the hen's perspective, not mine. I believe that was your question.


I do not believe the presence of a rooster causes or enhances broodiness. The absence of a rooster does not prevent broodiness. Inheritance has a big effect on whether a hen will go broody or not. Allowing eggs to pile up will not cause a hen to go broody, I've tried a few times and it never did work. Allowing the eggs to pile up may encourage one, not sure about that, but they will certainly go broody without them piling up.

Thank you!

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Yes. Or there can be, anyway. He can ease the social dynamics (or make them less smooth), watch for predators, escort the hens to the nest and back to the flock which also helps against predators, find food for the hens. Any or all of these are more important in some set ups than in others.

I think a flock of hens usually can have a good quality of life without a rooster.

Thank you