Is broodiness catching?!!!!!!

[Sue]

In addition to my wyandotte going broody, my 'top hen' the legbar has now decided to join her! Is it catching? I only have two nest boxes and now they are both occupied! I am now having second thoughts about getting any more hens. Can anyone tell me whether there are any breeds that DON'T go broody at all. What about the hybrids? I now have two hens with nowhere to lay!

And I wanted to keep hens as a relaxing hobby!!!!!!!!!

 

[dorinda]

It's not catching, it just the time of year when certain breeds more are likely to go broody than others, solkies, wyndottes, faverolles (especially the bantams), and pekins, if you take your broodues out of their nest box and put them in a dog crate - the sort with bars underfoot, leave them for three days and that will stop their broodiness - you have to stop them if you don't want to hatch chicks otherwise they will stay like that for weeks. I have one or two breeds that never go broody, Ko-shamo, german Langshan, sabelpoots rarely, araucanas very rarely and there are others

 

[Totalcolour]

There is a fabulous page of info on different breeds so you should be able to find something to suit you

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

You could always "break up" your broodies if you have the time and energy. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.

TC

 

[Chuck]

Even the hybrids go broody sometimes although they're bred not to. The Mediterranean breeds (Leghorns, Anconas, Andalusians) seldom go broody but I've got a White and a Buff Leghorn broody at the moment !

Best thing is to take them off broody. Usually takes just a few days.