No Broodiness in 3 yrs.

[Liz Birdlover]

So I've read up on it, have waited for it to happen, but in 3 yrs. I have not seen any signs of my hens going broody...just wondering what's up with that.

Even not collecting eggs for a few days, letting them accumulate to about 10 eggs, hasn't inspired anyone to become broody. Any ideas?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Sometimes it just doesn’t happen. It’s a hormone thing.

Last year I had 2 5month old pullets go broody after I waited over a year for my Buff Orp, which is supposed to be a broody breed. Neither of the pullets were broody breeds. I let one sit and hatch some eggs.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I had 5 Blue Wyandottes, 3 kept going broody so a friend wanted broody & she took them. She had them a year, they never went broody. I think some breeds maybe more broody than others but then it gets to be an individual thing as well as hormonal.

I now have 4 BOs, did not realize they were laying machines Been lucky so far as I haven't had to deal with broodiness.

 

[Hufflefluff]

What breeds do you have? Most high production layers never go broody- the trait has been almost entirely bred out of Leghorns, for example, and Sex Links (almost) never brood. Other hatchery layer birds that rarely go broody are Easter Eggers and some hatchery Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds.
Even if they are heritage/ broody breeds, some girls just don't. You're right, though- it is kinda odd that it hasn't happened once in three years. Do you want a broody to hatch chicks?

 

[Kessel23]

I got some hatchery RIR 4 years ago, only 3 have ever gone broody

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Maybe they only go broody when they meet and mingle with the right fella!

 

[JedJackson]

So I've read up on it, have waited for it to happen, but in 3 yrs. I have not seen any signs of my hens going broody...just wondering what's up with that.

Even not collecting eggs for a few days, letting them accumulate to about 10 eggs, hasn't inspired anyone to become broody. Any ideas?

It could be the breed, as said above. If not, things that help in my opinion are optimal nutrition with high protein (18-20%) feed, which should be always available, along with water and oyster shell if your feed doesn't contain extra calcium. Also, suitable living quarters are important. Enough space, plenty of laying boxes and a reasonably stress free environment are key.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Hey thanks for your comments, I appreciate! So I have 3 Roo's in their own 3 coops (bigger coops to be built once the windy, cold, rain/snow/ice weather breaks) for what I have now is OK, so no fighting roo's, 1 Ameraucana pair, 1 Barred Rock pair, and 1 older Ameraucana Roo with his Ameraucana harem (8 hens) in a larger coop, with plenty of room and nest boxes, they all seem to want the same box and take turns to lay eggs in that box, go figure. Anyway...I am patiently waiting, and I think I may actually have a broody Ameraucana hen in the harem coop! I was cleaning the coop and she kept wanting to go back to 2 eggs in a corner with the wood chips all puffed up around with her sitting in the middle of the woodchip "bowl" not even in a nest box, so I left her and the 2 eggs in peace, if that's where she wants to be that fine, no other hens are bugging her either. This is a first, so I am hopeful and of course so very "eggs-cited" for sure! I will keep an eye on her and let you know.

 

[aart]

so I left her and the 2 eggs in peace, if that's where she wants to be that fine, no other hens are bugging her either. This is a first, so I am hopeful and of course so very "eggs-cited" for sure! I will keep an eye on her and let you know.

I'd swap those eggs out with fakies until you're sure she's broody,
meanwhile think about where you want her to set if she's gonna.
Sometimes it's better to separate then with wire from the flock until after hatch.
Best of cLuck!