what breeds of chickens often go broody???

[BaJa]

Hi, I would like a broody chicken to incubate my eggs. hens are way better than incubators, and you don't put all the work into it, and, the chicks can enjoy having a "mother" for heat instead of a red light. I sometimes use pigeons for quail eggs, which works fine, but they can only take 3-4 eggs, and an incubator. now the question is, "What breed do I buy?" thanks for your help!!!

 

[Dixiechick2083]

The broodiest hens I have are my two black australorpes. They go broody every year at the same time (summer). I've used them to hatch bantam eggs twice. They are also good mamas. I want to hatch some quail eggs, so I'm hoping one of my bantam hens will go broody. My female quail isn't interested in sitting.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

If you're looking for a breed of chicken known for going broody I'd recommend a silkie or Cochin. They are both small breeds and love going broody and are known for being great mothers although sometimes need a little assistance going from broody hen to mama due to their tendency to go into such a strong broody trance.

 

[BaJa]

thanks so much,

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Silver Pencilled Plymouth Rocks will brood two to three times from spring to fall. Good layers too if you can keep them from trying to brood

 

[JaeG]

Bantams are usually broody. My Booted bantams and Old English Game bantams have been wonderful, even on quail eggs.

 

[BaJa]

is one female OK, or do I also need a rooster to make them go broody?

 

[lazy gardener]

Broodiness is caused by hormones. Roos have nothing to do with it. You might check Henderson's chicken breeds chart to find a breed that is prone to broodiness while meeting some of your other flock criteria.

 

[azygous]

Wyandottes tend to be serial broodies. My star broody, who is raising her second batch of chicks at this moment, is a SLW who has regularly gone broody three times each season from her first year. She is currently six years old.

However, not every hen of a broody-prone breed will go broody. You can buy one of these breeds for their tendency to go broody and as luck would have it, none would be inclined to do so. It's really up to the individual hen and her hormones.

LG is so right - roosters have no more influence on a hen's broody hormones than you and me and the mailman.

 

[RockyFieldsFarm]

I have 25 chickens in my flock - consisting of black australorps, buff orpingtons, cochins, barred rock, copper marran, ameraucanas - out of all of them I have two black australorps, and a buff orpington that become broody every early summer for several weeks.