4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Guest]

Was talking to an experienced chicken-keeping colleague at work today about my yearning to hatch some eggs next spring. My neighbour grew up on a farm and is willing to despatch male chicks if I get autosexing, or cockerals for the table. She told me that her hybrids never 'went broody' and offered to put some eggs under her bantam for me when the time comes. Part if the reason for doing it though, would be so that the neighbourhood little 'uns could see the chicks. I have read lots of posts on the forum about Omleteers who are asking IF their chickens are going broody, but can anyone conclusively tell me that hybrids WILL go broody?

[Yolky]

Yes they do. My has gone broody twice since I got her.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Of my 3, the Pied Suffolk has been broody 3 times, the Rhode Island Red and Columbine have never. Only had them 14 months though.

[beach chick]

we've had 2 bluebelles, and they have NEVER gone broody. Paris now rules the roost, and Tara Palmer-Tompkinson went to the henhouse in the sky earlier this year.

[Milly]

My Miss Pepperpot has been broody twice in a year. But the Gingernut Ranger has never been broody. So they can go broody - but not all of them!

 

Milly

[RubyReckless]

I've had broody hybrids too - it's the luck of the draw!

[Guest]

I have a light Sussex who is less than a year old and has been broody TWICE and moulted TWICE!

 

They are a breed supposedly good for eggs but TBH she is off lay more than she is on. My best layer is a gingernut ranger.

 

I also have another chicken that is semi broody but she's not really a hybrid as such but appears to be a cross between 2 pure breeds (which I guess is a "natural" hybrid).

[redfrock]

Agatha, my skyline was broody for the majority of the summer - 3 times in all, with just 4 or 5 days break inbetween each session; just enough time to lay a new clutch of eggs before she started again. Tuesday, Carmen and Orla are all also regular broodies, all managing 2 sessions each this year, and the same last year. In fact oOla was broody for a total of 6 weeks or so in straight succession last year. At least this year her and Agatha kept each other company and became the best of friends while they inhabited the nest box.

 

My other 8 girls (6 now) have never been broody and I have had some of them for nearly 2 years.

[Gallina]

I have never had a broody hybrid. They are bred not to be broody (as they will never be used for breeding), but some go back to nature.

 

But I have only had one broody pure-breed, so there is no guarantee there either.

 

You have to wait until your hen goes broody, and then get the eggs quickly.

[Egluntyne]

My Pepperpots have gone broody several times, but the others never have.

[chickenanne]

I've two hybrids, and one is ALWAYS going broody for AGES at a time. Of my 2 pure breds, one has been broody breifly, the other has no maternal drive at all.

depends on what pure breed you're talking about - Light Sussex, and Silkies, for example have been bred in the past by some breeders to be good broody monthers.

[moochoo]

My pied suffolk goes broody about every 5 weeks, last year she was broody through the winter (wierd girl)! I hope she has a rest this year poor thing.

[EileenH]

As I recently posted, my Pepperpot has been broody twice in her short life (she started laying again today!) My Gingernut hasn`t at all.

[HENthusiastic]

My pepperpot is currently on her 3rd broody and I've not had her a full year yet!

My gingernut ranger has never gone broody.

My undefined hybrid has never gone broody.

 

Think its like people....... some do............ some dont.

I used to be broody when younger............ not at all now

[Louisdog]

Can't you squeeze a pekin or silkie into your flock then hopefully you can have chicks at home

[Guest]

Maybe they will, maybe they won't! I shall wait with baited breath! Thanks for all the replies.