What kind of broody hens do you use to populate the next generation of your flock.

[Coopscraft]

I ran six eggs in an incubator and am diwn to 2 eggs. I am starting to wonder if I would like to have broodies do the hatching. I was about to order Sumatra’s but a surprisingly high total price occurred for 5 birds. What full size layer breeds are great moms?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Depends on the bird.

Although Cochins and Orpingtons have been wonderful broodies in my experience.

 

[Coopscraft]

Yay, one egg survived to hatch.

 

[Perris]

congrats on the hatch
Having a broody is wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone - they do all the work, and watching a broody with chicks is the best therapy I know. I have had 3 broodies to date, and on that limited experience, I'd recommend using the highest ranking bird. All 3 were good moms, but the dominant hen had an easier time of it. (On the other hand, being broody helped the lower ranking birds develop a bit of backbone and stand up for themselves and their chicks, and their chicks are fending for themselves fine now.) None of my 3 were of breeds known for broodiness by the way, so I don't think that much matters unless you want to raise a lot.

 

[Coopscraft]

More good news! I just found at my nearby feed store a bin full of black Sumatra chicks straight run. Mrs Coopscraft said to get 8. So, I now have broody genetics. If they all turn out to be roosters I will keep one and he can put the moves on and get me some broody hens for the next generation. If there are a bunch of hens in the mix, so much the better.