Natural Incubation - What is a good broody breed?

[merry hens]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to hatch our eggs this season using natural incubation. I had always heard silkies are good broodies but from my experience with the few that I've had they are unnaturally and unhealthily tenacious and all of the silkies I've tried have been sloppy moms. In a nutshell, I am fed up with my silky moms. I'm sure they're trying, but I just don't think they're cut out to be moms! In any case, I need to break our current silky broody up because not only did she let all the eggs get cold last night, she is getting too skinny and needs a break from broodiness.
If my breeders go broody I will let them but otherwise I need some new broodies.
I'm looking for a BIG, robust hen that can set on a lot of eggs and will be a watchful and active mother.

What are some other breeds that go broody regulary and make good moms?
Anybody have some natural incubation tips?

 

[debilorrah]

Well hell I was gonna say silkies!!! And I need to point out that my silkie has never been broody.....

 

[schmije]

Buff orps. are good broodies. I had one that went broody about every six months, and another that has never been broody.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

From what I've heard, silkies are the queens of broody! Get yourself a few of those, and you should be set!

My silkie has yet to go broody, but then again I only just added a cockerel to the coop and I've only had her for a few months. She went through a bit of a rough period trying to fit in, and only now is she starting to get more confident. I'll bet between five silkies, though, you could get someone to go broody when you want!

Er, maybe the silkie people will have better advice on this front, though, as I only have one at this point.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
REALLY??? I have had BOs for two years now and not a one has gone broody on me.

 

[92caddy]

Our silkeis will sit on rocks and try to hatch them. The next best thing, I think, is a barnyard mixed banty.................

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

That is a hard one. My history with broody hens is as follows:

Silkies - I have had 4 hens for 2.5 years now. Cleo will go broody if you look at her funny. The other 3 never been broody. Cleo is a great mom.

Buff Orpingtons - Again 1 out of 3 has gone broody. Also a good mom.

Best broody I had was a Black Astraloupe. She was constantly broody, she would move from next box to next box to find eggs to sit on. I took them from her every day and she would move to another box that had an egg in it.

This past fall I purchaed some Standard Cochins - want to see what they will do with regard to going broody.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Quote:
Oh yeah - I fogot my Jezebel (Mutt Bantam Hen) she was a fool for hatching eggs.

 

[brendapa]

I would think a cochin. They are bigger and can sit on more eggs.

Any hen that is setting eggs needs to be by herself. Two or more hens will sqaubble over eggs and the eggs will always loose.

Brenda

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Quote:
Good point - I move my broody and her next box into a dog crate so she has her privacy.