What breed makes the best mother?

[hoog]

Hey great posts all, thanks for the advice and antidotes.

 

[lone cedar farm]

I think it would be hard to beat a Game hen, they are super good momma's and will die protecting her brood! I've seen them meet a hawk in mid air and fly after them as they retreat.

I like the BO also for the calmest most affectionate mothers.

 

[NEK38583]

I use silkies and highly reccomend them. If they are going to be free range I would consider games not the expensive kind just flea market or barnyard games they are very protective of there babies whick helps if a predator comes buy, but silkies are better setters.

 

[shortcake1806]

I agree with whomever said game hens. They're hard to beat when it comes to brooding.

 

[Ryu]

My Standard Cornish are great mothers. They are very gentle to handle when they are broody, and stick to the nest like glue.

We have had horrible luck with Cochins. We have some Dutch hens sitting right now, we'll see how they do.

 

[SeramaLife]

My seramas, although tiny, have been the best.

 

[walkswithdog]

I just had another partridge rock go broody and a barred rock go broody, and two bourbon red turkey hens go broody.

I'm terrified there's something in the water and I'll go broody.

My broodies - free range, two are out there now with 19 or 20 between them - little suckers won't hold still enough for a full count. Man they chase every other chicken 20ft off the chicks and they MEAN it. The delawares are terrified.

I guess the white sticks out to the PRs, the delawares hardly get a chance at the yard while the mothers are there, fortunately they've begun to drag the seething little pack further and further from the coops now.

The best breed? The ones that will do it. While some are more predictably and commonly broody some in those breeds also do it poorly or not at all, chickens like people are each different and don't read the books on how they're to behave.

 

[windzbreezy]

I am in need of a protective mother whom will adopt chicks I have now. My hens had killed the only little cuckoo Maran In my coop. I need a mommmy who won't take no sh*t. I am so upset about it