WHAT IS BROODY?

[bncranch]

New to raising chickens. Not sure what broody is and what it does to the chicken. Can someone please explain

 

[sn0wwhite]

I'm sure someone will be along who can explain it better than I can, but my understanding is that when a hen decides that she wants to keep the eggs and hatch them, she's broody. And the term seems to be used then to explain her behavior when she doesn't want to leave the nest because she just wants to sit on and hatch some chicks.

 

[Judy]

That's basically correct. Broodiness is a hormonal change. Often a hen will set on a nest with or without eggs. She will usually sit 24/7 except for one short break a day to eat, drink and poop. She will not roost or lay eggs while broody. If chicks hatch, she will teach them to eat, drink and forage, protect them from aggresive hens, gather them under her to rest or get warm, or for protection, and generally "mother" them for a few weeks.