Question on broody RIR's

[ams3651]

I would like to get RIR's mostly because its what my grandfather had but I was wondering how many people have had them hatch chicks. I dont want them doing it left and right but once and a while would be nice and I dont want to do it myself, let nature take its course kind of thing.
My son also liked the Plymouth Rock, any suggestions or experience would be appreceiated. We are in PA so they need to be hardy and I have looked over the breed list on My Pet Chicken but I would like to hear from you.

 

[Katy]

I've never had an RIR go broody. It's pretty much been bred out of them. I've had my BRs go broody on occasion. Cochins, silkies and Orpingtons go broody much more frequently. I have one Marans hen that is broody more often than she's not.

 

[sweetshoplady]

I had one RIR go broody, I've been told it is rare though. For her it was a lost cause because I had no rooster. She had laid her eggs in a bucket and I didn't realize it til she began to sit on them. She sat on them for a few days before I got her off of them. She even went back to the bucket after I took the eggs out. I miss that hen.

If you keep the eggs picked up, and unless they are sneaky and lay somewhere you aren't aware of, they won't go broody. I was told to get a hen broody, to stop picking her eggs up and let them collect under her - that she needs about a dozen or she won't go broody.

My Plymouth Barred Rock was a very sweet hen. Real chatty and loved to be held and petted.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I've raised RIRs never had one go Broody......

 

[ams3651]

So would the Plymouth Barred Rock be a better choice maybe? My son thought they looked neat.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

It is very very rare to get a broody rir.
A broody one is basically a dud. But in a good way.

 

[ZuniBee]

I have 20 RIR hens and only one has gone broody. Actually she hatched her eggs three weeks ago and had raised 18 chicks. She is a very good momma but I've been told it is very rare for RIR to go broody.

 

[raindrop]

I would say that a BR would be a better choice. They don't go broody that often, but if you get 5 or 6 of them you will probably have a couple that will go broody sometimes. None of the RIR I have ever had have gone broody. Too busy laying eggs and bossing around my other hens.