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The Broody Hen by Virginia Shirt

What is a broody hen? How do you know if your hen is broody and what to do about it.

Virginia Shirt is the author of The Right Way to Keep Chickens available from Amazon and all good bookstores. She has lived with chickens for over 15 years so her knowledge is based on practical experience.

The book provides a comprehensive guide to keeping chickens and is an easy read from an obvious enthusiast.

The Broody Hen

Chickens can be very good and protective mothers.

Chickens will happily lay eggs for you almost every day. That is until she decides she wants to rear some chicks. Once the instinct to breed kicks in the hen will stop laying and become what is commonly known as a broody hen.

A broody hen will sit on a clutch of eggs for 21 days. After 21 days the chicks will hatch (provided the eggs were fertile) and the hen will rear them in a very protective manner for several weeks or more until they are old enough to look after themselves.

There is nothing so appealing as watching a mother hen with her brood. She will guard and protect them fiercely often putting her own life at risk to do so. The chicks will keep warm under the hen’s wings. Under her wings is the perfect temperature required to incubate, hatch and rear the chicks.

Broody Hens Stop Laying

If the eggs are not fertile the hen will often remain on the eggs for several weeks if allowed to do so. If a hen does become broody you need to be aware that during this time she will not lay any eggs. Therefore if you do not wish to hatch any chicks then you must discourage her broody instinct immediately.

How to Recognise a Broody Hen

A broody hen is not difficult to spot. She will sit in the nest box all day and night. She will only leave the nest to eat and drink. If you approach the nest box she will cluck loudly in an attempt to deter you. Her feathers will be fluffed up in order to make her look big and scary. If you are not put of by this behaviour and are brave enough to put your hand under her she will peck you viciously and probably scream hysterically.

Discouraging Broody Behaviour

If you are not intending to breed then you need to discourage her broody behaviour. You must remove the eggs from under her and discourage her from the nest box. The secret is to cool the area under her belly and wings. You can do this by housing her on a wire mesh surface that will allow air to circulate round her under carriage. The wire mesh will also allow for little comfort as she sits. The lack of comfort will discourage her from wanting to sit for to long.

She will usually require 2/3 days in this situation. You could use a small dog crate as these are ideal with wire flooring. However if she is in it for 2/3 days I would advise a blanket over the top and round the sides to keep her free from draught. If you raise the crate from the floor then cool air will circulate underneath her. This should help discourage broodiness and bring her back into lay.

Hatching Chicks

If you do wish to hatch off some chicks you need to be aware that the chicks will normally consist of half males and half females. You may find yourself lumbered with more cockerels than you will be able to cater for. Cockerels can be a nuisance in larger numbers. They will mate with the hens frequently each day thus causing stress to the hens. This can cause them to cease laying eggs. It is therefore more practical to purchase any replacement hens unless you are confident you can house the cockerels.

If you do decide to allow the hen to sit a clutch of eggs make sure they are the best quality eggs you can find. It is no good using sub standard eggs e.g thin shells, as they are less likely to hatch. Avoid using big eggs that could possibly be double yolks. This would mean twins; twins often have difficulty and may die in the shell while trying to hatch.

It is also wise not to allow her to sit a large number. I had one hatch off 15 eggs but I did not know she was sat on them in the barn! A maximum of 12 would be advisable for a larger chicken. The smaller chickens and bantams would hatch of around 6/8.

Articles by Virginia Shirt on Keeping Chickens at Home