Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Pozees]

My yard bird flock consists of a few Buckeyes. The rooster has a disqualification... multiple spurs. Then I have some marans that are near perfect, from Bev in Florida, just a few hens. I also have a collection of mixed breeds and an old retired andalusian hen. My yard bird flock has about a dozen or so birds in it. Then my son has an assortment of bantams... a brassy back old english hen, a blue brass back old english hen, some speckled sussex and several rhode island red bantams with rose combs and about a half dozen large fowl ameracaunas, in unrecognized varieties. My daughter raises Golden Campine large fowl and the unrecognized Chamois Campine large fowl. I raise Blue Andalusians and I have a bunch of Delawares that I got for meat production. So, I've got quite a flock.

I'm curious about which of them you think is most inclined to go broody and successfully raise a clutch.

 

[aoxa]

I'm curious about which of them you think is most inclined to go broody and successfully raise a clutch.

I would bet money on the games

Also my silkie hatched out two chicks this weekend. A silkie and an Easter Egger.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Two more days to go before the baby silkies hatch from my broody silkie so happy and I will post tons of pics!!!!

 

[Lacy Blues]

My yard bird flock consists of a few Buckeyes. The rooster has a disqualification... multiple spurs. Then I have some marans that are near perfect, from Bev in Florida, just a few hens. I also have a collection of mixed breeds and an old retired andalusian hen. My yard bird flock has about a dozen or so birds in it. Then my son has an assortment of bantams... a brassy back old english hen, a blue brass back old english hen, some speckled sussex and several rhode island red bantams with rose combs and about a half dozen large fowl ameracaunas, in unrecognized varieties. My daughter raises Golden Campine large fowl and the unrecognized Chamois Campine large fowl. I raise Blue Andalusians and I have a bunch of Delawares that I got for meat production. So, I've got quite a flock.

I'm curious about which of them you think is most inclined to go broody and successfully raise a clutch.

Ok... believe it or not, my Andalusians have gone broody more than any of the other breeds! I know... they're toted as being non-setters. Well, I'm here t'tell y'all... it just aint so. I have one family in all my birds which has at least one hen each year go broody on me. That's ok. I'd rather they raise them than have to do it myself. The marans went broody this year, as well as several Andalusians and Campines. My daughter has one pair of buckeye bantams who went broody. My son's game bantams went broody a few years ago but not this year... and the Delawares are too young. In the past we had Black Stars which had a couple hens go broody.

Raising a clutch successfully: only one of my Andalusians that went broody did not raise successfully and the buckeye bantam. They were both young birds though. I'd put my money on the hens over the pullets any day.

 

[aoxa]

Ok... believe it or not, my Andalusians have gone broody more than any of the other breeds!  I know... they're toted as being non-setters.  Well, I'm here t'tell y'all... it just aint so.  I have one family in all my birds which has at least one hen each year go broody on me.  That's ok.  I'd rather they raise them than have to do it myself.  The marans went broody this year, as well as several Andalusians and Campines.  My daughter has one pair of buckeye bantams who went broody.  My son's game bantams went broody a few years ago but not this year... and the Delawares are too  young.  In the past we had Black Stars which had a couple hens go broody. 

Raising a clutch successfully:  only one of my Andalusians that went broody did not raise successfully and the buckeye bantam.  They were both young birds though.  I'd put my money on the hens over the pullets any day.

How weird! I've always been told games are better than silkies for mothers.

My game mix has gone broody twice this year, and she's only 7 months old.

I was also told Barred Rocks were non-setters, but they are wonderful mothers. Has anyone ever had a silkie that didn't go broody though? I'd be shocked!

 

[Lacy Blues]

I couldn't say. I don't have any silkies but I've heard they're great too!

 

[aoxa]

I couldn't say.  I don't have any silkies but I've  heard they're great too!

Great mothers yes, and the time they take off to brood lets them lay very late into their life. I have a hen now that is 4 years old, and lays like a pullet (when she is not broody)

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a game hen who is a 2008 hatch and she goes broody every year, she is a great broody and awesome mama keeps her chicks at least 10 weeks.

 

[aoxa]

I have a game hen who is a 2008 hatch and she goes broody every year, she is a great broody and awesome mama keeps her chicks at least 10 weeks.

Oh if only they kept them that long! Only one made it close to 8 weeks, and that was a buff orpington. Janet is on week 6!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh if only they kept them that long! Only one made it close to 8 weeks, and that was a buff orpington.
Janet is on week 6!

Love it. and maybe with cooler temps she'll be more inclined to snuggle with warm fuzzies than brood. I love those silkies.. Do you sell them or keep them for yourself?