what is the best brood hen?

[good ole boy]

i use to have game chickens and now i am going with big stock chickens, but i am not sure which hen i can rely on the hatch eggs?

 

[Judy]

Broody breeds are listed near the bottom of the first page of this article:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

I have had Kraienkoppes and they were excellent brooders and mothers. In addition, an EE and a part-EE mutt were, and one or two of my Black Australorps went broody a few times.

Other than the breeds mentioned in that article, it is a matter of having an individual who retains the broody trait. Henderson's notes in their chart, for each breed, how broody that breed tends to be. Among large fowl other than Kraienkoppes (which are large fowl but on the small side, built much like a Leghorn) it will be the luck of the draw. Cochins, for example, are reported to be frequently broody.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html#c

 

[perolane]

Silkies & Cochins....they go broody every other day!