Why is a Broody Chicken a Bad Thing?

[2Old2Crow]

Lots of questions and advice on how to break this habit. But isn’t it a genetic thing? We had a Wy that was broody. She came out when she wanted. Sometimes laid eggs out on the property, but she was usually with the flock. If she disappeared, we shook the sunflower seed bottle and she’d run like a quarter horse.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

A broody hen is only bad if it is a trait you do not desire. When a hen is broody, her mama hormones are in full force and she is wanting to hatch some eggs. If you are a commercial poultry farmer wanting eggs, this is poor business because she's not laying eggs for you to sell! Therefore, many breeds have been selectively bred so that they are unlikely to go broody. However, many heritage breeds, breeds that have deep historical roots, a breed you may go back in time and find in your great-great-great-grandparent's backyard scratching around. For a small farmer wanting a sustainable flock, broodiness may be a great quality! This means once or twice a year your hen will hatch more babies to add to your flock, and you will have more fresh eggs or meat as you desire. So yes, broodiness is a genetic trait.

In my own personal life, I chose a mixed flock of commercial and heritage breeds. This spring 2 of 10 hens went broody, and I was able to let one hatch her own babies! So you don't have to do one or the other (commercial breed vs heritage breed), you can choose a mix. If you are buying chicks from a hatchery, the description will list if the hen is prone to broodiness and you can use Google or BYC's Articles for help as well.

You notice how I said 2 of my 10 hens were broody, but only one was allowed to hatch? There are ways to help a broody "snap out of it" and end the hormone cycle that is causing her to sit on eggs. Here is a great resource of the many ways to encourage her to stop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ For the most persistent hen, she may need to be put in a separate enclosure with food and water and no nest box for 3-4 days before she is back to her old self, but often you can encourage her to call it quits without needing to go this far.

 

[2Old2Crow]

Very nice answer.......thanx

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

A broody hen is only bad if it is a trait you do not desire. When a hen is broody, her mama hormones are in full force and see wanting to hatch some eggs. If you are a commercial poultry farmer wanting eggs, this is poor business because she's not laying eggs for you to sell! Therefore, many breeds have been selectively bred so that they are unlikely to go broody. However, many heritage breeds, breeds that have deep historical roots, a breed you may go back in time and find in your great-great-great-grandparent's backyard scratching around. For a small farmer wanting a sustainable flock, broodiness may be a great quality! This means once or twice a year your hen will hatch more babies to add to your flock and you will have more fresh eggs or meat as you desire. So yes, broodiness is a genetic trait.

In my own personal life, I chose a mixed flock of commercial and heritage breeds. This spring 2 of 10 hens went broody and I was able to let one hatch her own babies! So you don't have to do one or the other (commercial breed vs heritage breed), you can choose a mix. If you are buying chicks from a hatchery, the description will list if the hen is prone to broodiness and you can use Google or BYC's Articles for help as well.

You notice how I said 2 of my 10 hens were broody, but only one was allowed to hatch? There are ways to help a broody "snap out of it" and end the hormone cycle that is causing her to sit on eggs. Here is a great resource of the many ways to encourage her to stop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ For the most persistent hen, she may need to be put in a separate enclosure with food and water and no nest box for 3-4 days before she is back to her old self, but often you can encourage her to call it quits without needing to go this far.

That was a very well laid out and helpful answer.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

That was a very well laid out and helpful answer.

Thanks. I'm bored at work and have a lot of time on my hands. My coworker just asked why I'm typing so much!

 

[rosemarythyme]

For myself, as I have no desire to add chicks whenever a broody happens to be available, it's better to break her to lessen any disruption to the flock, and to ensure she doesn't loose too much body condition for something that will end in futility, as she wouldn't have fertile eggs.

 

[jenmurray0126]

Our hen has gone broody in the past week . Shes got about 9 eggs under her. I marked them . She growls and hisses at the other ladies and myself. We love that grouchy lady !

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Our hen has gone broody in the past week . Shes got about 9 eggs under her. I marked them . She growls and hisses at the other ladies and myself. We love that grouchy lady !

That’s a good mama! I handled my hen throughout her hatch so she just got clucky with me but when anyone else approached her she’d spread her wings and fluff herself up and make all kinds of noise.

 

[Zan]

I like a few broodies in my flock. In fact, I give them a purple leg band so I don't cull them at culling time. I don't care if they never lay, if they will set a couple times a year, they are worth the feed to me.

I have a hen right now with 15 chicks. 7 she hatched and 8 from the store. I set another tonight. Once I'm sure she's on the nest, she's getting 6 duck eggs