What's the best broody hen kind?

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I have a rooster and want chicks but I have no broody hens what's the best brooding breed?

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Silkies!, anyone would probably tell you. Oh, and Cochins... and Buff Orpingtons.. Speckled Sussexes are good ones, too, though... And many, many others!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Silkies are, almost hands-down, the best setters and mothers. If you think they're absolutely hideous birds (and I do. Sorry, silkie lovers.) consider Cochins, Buff Orpingtons, Brahmas, or that broody that someone in your area probably wants to get rid of because she's not laying eggs while she sets. (For example: I have a few pullets that were accidentally silkie crosses. Their mother was a broody EE. I am truly frightened of the number of chicks I may get next spring. Anyone in central PA want a broody bird? Or five?)

It's also a matter of parent stock. For instance, if you want broody birds, you probably shouldn't order from Ideal poultry.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks everyone that was so helpful

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with the others.
Silkie, Cochin, Brahma, Dorking and Java in that order.
I've had orps that set and some that never did.
I'd probably go with Cochin if you want to hatch a lot at a time. They can cover more than a silkie.
I've heard that bantam Cochins are more reliably broody than the LF.

Turkeys are pretty good setting hens too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is the best broody breed? An incubator, that's the only way you can control when and if you get chicks. Of course, then you have to raise them yourself. I personally prefer broody hens to raise them but I use an incubator when I need to hatch chicks.

Why do you want to hatch chicks? How many and how often. What breeds or at least sizes? A bantam can only cover a few eggs compared to a full sized hen, so if you want larger hatches a bantam might not be your first choice. If you do get a broody hen and hatch some of her eggs, her daughters are more likely to go broody in the future. Her sons can also pass that tendency to go broody to his daughters. So if you want more broodiness in your flock you need to use the breeds that you would want in your flock.

Not all hens of any certain breed will go broody, including Silkies. Some breeds have a stronger tendency to go broody than others but each hen within that breed is an individual. Some hens of any breed will never go broody, some will occasionally but not often, and some will at the drop of a hat. If you just get one of any breed you are taking a chance whether she ever goes broody or not. The more you get the better your chances of at least one going broody. You just don't get guarantees with any hen of breed.

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Silkies!

 

[usmanshahzada]

Silkies!

Great! I have 1 Silkie as well.. she is currently 3 months old