What is the best broody/mother hen?

[FF]

Hello. I need the chicken that will be the best momma and will set very good. I am too busy for the incubator. I usually sell chicks to people and I guess this is the best way. I usually wait about a month or 2 for the chicks to get bigger. I don't want to take them away from there moms. I'd say that that would just be devistating. If you don't care, the standard best breed and the bantam breed. And if you all have any eggs that you all wouldn't care to sell I can hatch these as I am pretty bored right now. But in summer, I don't have an off day until Sunday. And I have to go to church on Sunday so... Thank you all for any and all input. It is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Matt A NC]

Best bantam broody is a cochin. Some will say silkies, but I find that silkies cannot cover as many eggs and after hatch are not as good mothers as cochins.

Best standard broodies are cochins and Buff Orpingtons. Some other breeds have a tendency to leave chicks after only a couple weeks, but my Cochins and Orps take care of their babies for 6-8 weeks. A good orpington can cover 8-12 eggs. Cochins 12-16.

Matt

 

[Elite Silkies]

My Silkies only want about 6 eggs at a time. So, probably only 4 standard eggs. They can not cover as many eggs, but mine are very good mothers. They kept their two chicks alive in the bad weather we had. It got around 17 degrees at night and they done wonderful job.

But, I also have heard that cochins are excellent mothers too.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My Buff Orphs make the BEST moms!!

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Quote:
I would have to agree with Matt

My best broodies are our bantam cochins by far and also excellant mothers.

 

[Carol.in.WV]

I don't have that much experience, but all my chickens are from last spring so none are a year old yet. A bantam Japanese sat on about 10 eggs (my fault, too many and put under at different times) and hatched 5, one of which died so now she has 4 chicks about 5 wks old and is still taking good care of them even tho the 2 standards are almost as big as she is. She is a tiny little thing but is doing a great job even tho I moved her about 4 times.

I also have a bantam Cochin that is broody and has pushed some of the eggs off her nest. She has been on these standard eggs about a week and won't get off every day to eat and poop. I opened the egg she pushed out and doesn't look like anything was growing.....is it possible the mom can tell?

My little silkie pullet started sitting about 4 days ago on her own 5 eggs. She worries me because she takes long breaks of a half hour or more, so I put a little heat under the eggs until she is ready to get back on. I will be able to see in a few weeks which girl does the best job.

 

[RAWR]

i have a broody orpington right now, i've heard that Silkies, EEs and Cochins make good mothers

 

[snowflake]

glad to hear about orpingtons I have one going broody and I keep trying to discourage her as it is so cold in Mi got down to 3 above last night. I would rather she wait till March. she is out there scolding me right now cause I took her eggs

 

[nsanywhere]

My silkie hen is the QUEEN of broody! It doesn't matter whose egg, how many or how long she has to sit. She has hatched chickens, turkeys and peacocks for me. I vote silkie.

 

[deerman]

Best Broodies are Old English Game, and come in both sizes. They will even give their life to protect the chicks. They will stay setting for months.

Little pecking of the hands,when changing eggs. They also can cover alot of eggs.