Tell me about broodies...

[Trish1974]

This is the first year I have let broody hens sit and hatch eggs. It has taken my joy of chicken keeping to a whole new level. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching a hen with her chicks. I am addicted.

This is also the first summer I have my 3 different flocks of Araucanas. They are a VERY broody breed. So far this summer, 6 out of 9 pullets and hens have gone broody! So taking into consideration this is a broody breed, can you answer these questions:

1.) Is it possible for a pullet/hen to go broody twice in one year? Or is it usually a "one and done" until next summer kind of thing?
2.) Do they tend to go broody the same time every year?
3.) If they have been broody once, will they continue to go broody every year after?

Thanks!

 

[Shadrach]

This is the first year I have let broody hens sit and hatch eggs. It has taken my joy of chicken keeping to a whole new level. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching a hen with her chicks. I am addicted.

This is also the first summer I have my 3 different flocks of Araucanas. They are a VERY broody breed. So far this summer, 6 out of 9 pullets and hens have gone broody! So taking into consideration this is a broody breed, can you answer these questions:

1.) Is it possible for a pullet/hen to go broody twice in one year? Or is it usually a "one and done" until next summer kind of thing?
2.) Do they tend to go broody the same time every year?
3.) If they have been broody once, will they continue to go broody every year after?

Thanks!

1) Yes. Some hens will lock into a broody cycle. I've had hens here go broody 5 or 6 times in a year.
2) Winter broodiness is unusual but not unheard of. Generally broodiness starts shortly after the winter break. Pullets can be an exception because they will not necessarily stop layng over the winter.
3) No, Some hens can be fairly regular year on year, others can take a couple of years off.
However, once a hen has gone broody and hatched it has meant more often than not that they will want to have another go the next year.

 

[aart]

Had a serial broody last summer, broke her 7 times after letting her hatch in March.
Finally gave her away, as of early June she's never gone broody again.

Had a winter broody, let her hatch in Jan/Feb...will never do that again.

So ya can just never tell for sure...and in my confined setup, I'd rather integrate incubator chicks.
Broodies can cause chaos in the flock, as cute as the 'mama and babies' tableau is.

 

[Matilda Belle]

My silkies go broody all year round, even in the winter.