What does broody actually mean? Is it a good thing or bad. I think it is when a chicken will sit on eggs, but do they do that with unfertilized eggs? (Meaning there is no rooster in site?) What's bad about a chicken being broody? What's good?
Hello and Welcome To BYC! Ya, broody is used to describe a hen that will sit on eggs trying to hatch them. Mainly it is good if you want the hen to hatch chicks, it is bad if you want the hen to lay eggs since they quit laying when they are broody. Being broody is hormonal, they don't need a rooster around to go broody and they will sit on unfertilized eggs, fake eggs, determined ones will sit on about anything including an empty nest. There are a couple of nice articles in the BYC Learning Center on Broody hens https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks
They quit laying eggs and set on the eggs in the nest. They growl at you usually when you try to take the eggs away. They fluff up like a turkey when you take them off the nest for eating and exercise once a day, and bock as they walk around.
Welcome to BYC! Excellent advice given here. I don't keep roosters, so I GREATLY dislike those broodies!!!!! Enjoy all your poultry adventures!
Alright great to have you with us Sounds like you understand very well yes a hen just want to sit on her egg's so it is good if this is what you want and bad if you are only trying to gather egg's
I am considering a small flock of chickens, not roosters. The ones I am most interested in are Buff Orpingtons, Black Austerlops, Plymouth Rock, and Easter Eggers. Do any of these have problems with being broody?
Are Austerlops loud? I live in a residential neighborhood and need quiet chickens. What would be the best choice?
