Need opinions for 4-H boy

[4-H chicken mom]

One of my 4-H kids has ask me this question? If he were to ordered some baby bantams today, he is trying to get a hen to go with his cockerel, would he have enough time to get her up to broody time to hatch her own eggs by late next summer? I told him I would post his question. I was not sure on the age when bantams become fertile. I thought he was cutting it a little close and that chickens don't always follow the same time tables. What do you think I could tell this young man?

 

[nccatnip]

My one banty went broody at 5 months and hatched out 4 chicks so with luck you should have time. You will never know unless you try.

 

[Chellester]

If there's a rooster around, the eggs will most likely be fertile when the hen starts laying.

The one thing you can't guarantee is whether the hen will go broody. If the hen is one of the breeds more prone to broodiness (like Silkies) your chances are better, but there's still no guarantee. The only way to to guarantee it is to get an incubator.

 

[snugglepup]

It depends. If he is counting on her to go broody, she won't. If he really was counting on her laying, she will go broody.

Best way in my experience to make a hen go broody is to promise somebody a dozen eggs.

 

[rooster-red]

You can't really predict when a hen will go broody.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I didn't think to ask him what he was looking for. What other bantams, beside the Silkies that someone already said, are a good broody hens and which ones are not so good broody hens?
Thanks

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Japanese are good broodies. They are a hard breed to get right because of their legs, though. D'uccles are supposed to be good, too. I've heard mixed reports on the game bantams.