Need help understanding broodiness please.

[Shellyb]

I have 9 young pullets that aren't laying yet, but I am very new to chickens still as this is my first time. I don't quite understand broodiness. I get that they want to be mama hen's but I don't get how to prevent if possible, how they act, will they still lay eggs, can I get those eggs after she lays them, what will happen if they never get eggs to hatch? Sorry for all the questions but these are the questions that go through my mind when I read about broody hens. Thanks

 

[Southernbelle]

I love broody hens!

Broodiness is hormonal and some chickens are more prone to it than others. My first one went broody about a month after she started laying (Silkie). I could tell she was broody because she never got off the nest: she didn't care what treats I was bringing and she slept on the nest. After a while, I gave her eggs, she sat on them until they hatched and was a great mama hen.

They don't lay eggs while they're broody. They lay eggs before going broody - whatever they feel is a proper amount to brood - then they stop laying and sit on them.

Some people find broodiness annoying because they take up a nest box and quit laying eggs. I considered broodiness an opportunity to hatch baby chicks without my husband telling me I have too many chickens already!

 

[greyhorsewoman]

What breed of chickens do you have? Some breeds tend to go broody more, some breeds rarely. There are a LOT of threads discussing broodiness on this forum, try a search, you'll find a lot of information.

Basically, when a chicken goes broody, she stays in her nest 24/7 (and will stop laying eggs). Yes, you can remove any eggs, though she may not be too happy about it. Lots of folks have suggestions about how to get a chicken to go broody or unbroody, but many times, it really is MOTHER NATURE that dictates the whole thing.

I've had hens give up quickly and some that hugged the nest for over a month (until I gave up and gave them some eggs to hatch).