What Causes a Hen to Go Broody?

A hen will go broody at any age, but it is more common to see this behavior in Spring and Summer. This is because the warmer weather and longer daylight hours trigger a hormone surge in the hen’s body, which tells her it’s time to sit on eggs and hatch chicks.

Hens can go broody at any time of the year but certain breeds are more likely to do so than others. Silkies, Cochins, Orpingtons, Barbu D’Uccle bantams and Speckled Sussex are known to be more susceptible to broodiness than other breeds.

What Causes a Hen to Go Broody?

Broodiness is a natural instinct that all chickens have. However, it can be a bad thing for hens and can lead to a variety of issues for the owner.

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to leave a broody hen to her own devices and she needs to be kept on a strict diet while she is incubating. This is because she will not be able to properly nourish herself while she is brooding, so she needs to have access to a high-quality egg-laying feed and supplemental treats like soft scrambled eggs, grubs, mealworms or chickweed from your garden.

She will also need to be allowed access to a private feeder and waterer. If she is able to access this, she will be able to eat and drink without having to worry about being disturbed by the other hens in her flock.

The brooding period can last up to 21 days, but if left alone, she will usually snap out of it on her own after about three weeks. After that, she will start laying again and you can re-introduce her to the flock.

How Does a Hen Know She Is Broody?

A broody hen is very agitated when she is in her nest box and will squawk, hiss and growl loudly if you try to dislodge her. She will also fluff out her feathers to give the impression that she is bigger and more threatening than she actually is. She may even scream at you and give you an unfriendly peck if you try to touch her!

If you have a hen that is exhibiting these signs, it is very important to get her to move out of her nest box. You can do this by simply pulling her out of her nest box and placing her on a different area in the coop, or in a separate coop.

She may not want to be moved at first, but if you can keep her on a consistent schedule for a few days, she will eventually agree to be removed from the nest box. You can also use a soft stuffed toy to help her settle into her new spot in the coop.

Hens that are not broody are still a valuable part of the coop, and will still eat, drink and lay their eggs. They will not necessarily be as productive, but they will do all of the things a normal hen does to stay healthy and happy.