Have you ever walked into your chicken coop, reached your hand into the nesting box to collect eggs, and suddenly been greeted with an angry peck and a fluffed-up, hissing hen? If so, you’ve probably encountered a broody hen But what exactly does it mean when a chicken is broody? Let’s dive into this fascinating behavior that can both delight and frustrate backyard chicken keepers
What is a Broody Hen?
Simply put, a broody hen is one that has decided she wants to be a mother She’s determined to sit on eggs until they hatch, whether those eggs are fertilized or not. This maternal instinct is powerful and can lead to some pretty dramatic changes in your hen’s behavior and routine.
When a hen goes broody she’ll claim a nesting box as her own and refuse to leave except for very brief periods. She’ll sit there stubbornly day and night, leaving only to grab a quick bite to eat take a drink of water, or relieve herself – usually just once or twice a day.
Signs Your Hen Has Gone Broody
How can you tell if your hen is broody? Here are the telltale signs:
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She refuses to leave the nest – A broody hen will camp out in her nesting box 24/7, rarely getting up for anything.
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She gets puffy and aggressive – When approached, a broody hen will puff out her feathers, making herself look bigger. She might also peck at your hand, hiss, or make threatening noises.
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Her breast feathers may be missing – Many broody hens pluck out their own breast feathers to create better skin-to-egg contact for warming the eggs and to use these feathers to line their nest.
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She makes unique sounds – Broody hens often make distinctive clucking or growling noises when disturbed.
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Her comb and wattles become pale – Due to hormonal changes and reduced activity, a broody hen’s comb and wattles may appear paler than usual.
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She flattens herself in the nest – A broody hen will spread herself wide to cover as many eggs as possible.
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She may sit on an empty nest – Even if there are no eggs, a determined broody hen might still sit there waiting.
As my neighbor Clarice once said about her Buff Orpington, “That darn hen was so broody she’d sit on a rock if I put it under her!”
What Causes a Hen to Go Broody?
Several factors can trigger broodiness in chickens:
1. Hormones
Broodiness is primarily a hormonal response. As days get longer in spring and summer, increasing daylight triggers hens to release prolactin, the hormone responsible for maternal behaviors.
2. Genetics and Breed
Some chicken breeds are naturally more prone to broodiness than others. This trait has been bred out of many commercial egg-laying breeds but remains strong in others.
Breeds Most Likely to Go Broody:
- Silkies (these are broody champions!)
- Cochins
- Buff Orpingtons
- Brahmas
- Sussex
- Wyandottes
- Australorps
Breeds Less Likely to Go Broody:
- Leghorns
- Rhode Island Reds
- Andalusians
- Hamburg
- Minorcas
- Polish
3. Age and Maturity
Young pullets in their first laying season rarely go broody. This behavior typically emerges in more mature hens.
4. Environmental Factors
Having eggs accumulate in the nest can trigger broodiness. This is why collecting eggs frequently can help prevent it.
How Long Will a Hen Stay Broody?
If left undisturbed, a broody hen will typically remain in this state for about 21 days – the time it takes for chicken eggs to hatch. However, if no chicks emerge after this period, some stubborn hens might continue sitting for weeks longer!
Mrs. Fluffybum, one chicken owner’s Black Jersey Giant, was known to remain broody for up to 6 weeks if not actively discouraged. That’s some serious determination!
Should I Let My Hen Be Broody?
This depends entirely on your goals as a chicken keeper:
Reasons to Allow Broodiness:
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You want baby chicks – If you have a rooster and want to expand your flock naturally, a broody hen is nature’s perfect incubator.
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It’s educational – Watching a hen hatch and raise chicks is an amazing learning experience, especially for children.
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It’s natural – Some chicken keepers prefer to let their birds follow their natural instincts.
Reasons to Break Broodiness:
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Egg production stops – A broody hen stops laying eggs, reducing your egg supply.
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Health concerns – Prolonged broodiness can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and increased vulnerability to parasites.
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Contagious behavior – Broodiness can sometimes spread to other hens in your flock, further reducing egg production.
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You don’t have fertile eggs – Without a rooster, those eggs will never hatch, making the behavior pointless.
How to Break a Broody Hen
If you’ve decided that broodiness doesn’t fit your chicken-keeping goals, here are some methods to break the broody cycle:
1. Remove Her From the Nest Regularly
Pick up your broody hen and place her outside with the rest of the flock several times each day. This disrupts her sitting pattern and may eventually convince her to give up.
2. Block Access to the Nesting Box
Once you’ve removed your hen from her chosen nest, block it off so she can’t return. This forces her to find alternative activities.
3. Create an Uncomfortable Nesting Environment
Remove nesting material or add items that make sitting uncomfortable, such as ice packs or frozen vegetables. The cooling effect can help reset her hormonal balance.
4. The “Broody Buster” Method
This more intensive approach involves placing the hen in a wire-bottomed cage or crate with good airflow for 2-3 days. The cage should contain only food and water – no nesting materials. The air circulation beneath her disrupts the brooding cycle.
As chicken keeper Chrissie shared, “I decided to clean both coops thoroughly, which meant shutting her out whilst it was drying. I then had the thought of leaving the roof off the nest boxes, replacing it with a grill which let in all natural light and breeze. Flecks rushed back to the coop when I opened the door but would not go into the nest boxes as it was too bright!”
5. The Cold Water Method
Some chicken keepers swear by briefly placing the hen’s underside in cool (not cold) water. This lowers her body temperature and can reset her hormones. (Not recommended in winter!)
Caring for a Broody Hen
If you’ve decided to let your hen remain broody, here’s how to care for her:
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Ensure access to food and water – Place these close to her nest so she doesn’t have to travel far.
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Check for mites and parasites – Since broody hens dust bathe less frequently, they’re more susceptible to parasites.
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Monitor her health – Watch for signs of weight loss or dehydration.
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Provide a safe, private space – If possible, separate her from the flock to prevent other hens from disturbing her or laying in her nest.
What if I Want Chicks?
If you want your broody hen to hatch chicks, you have several options:
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Let nature take its course – If you have a rooster, your hen may already be sitting on fertilized eggs.
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Purchase fertilized eggs – You can buy fertilized eggs and place them under your broody hen.
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Adopt day-old chicks – Some chicken keepers successfully introduce day-old chicks to a broody hen at night. By morning, she’ll often accept them as her own!
Karon shared her experience: “We had one go broody and no rooster, so we bought 2 chicks and placed under her at night. She took to them instantly, and had been Mom of the YEAR to them since then!”
Common Questions About Broody Hens
Can a broody hen die?
In extreme cases, yes. During hot weather, particularly stubborn broody hens might not leave the nest enough to eat, drink, or cool off, which can lead to dehydration or heat stress. Make sure your broody hen has access to food and water nearby.
What month do hens go broody?
Hens most commonly go broody in spring and early summer when daylight hours increase, though it can happen any time of year.
How do I know if eggs under my broody hen are developing?
After about 7-10 days of incubation, you can “candle” the eggs by holding them up to a bright light in a dark room. Developing embryos will appear as dark spots with visible blood vessels.
Will my hen start laying again after being broody?
Yes, but it may take a few days to a few weeks for her to resume normal egg production after her broodiness is broken.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose to embrace your hen’s maternal instincts or gently discourage them depends entirely on your chicken-keeping goals. Both approaches can be successful with the right knowledge and techniques.
I’ve found that working with a broody hen – rather than against her – often yields the most satisfying results. Even if you don’t want chicks, taking time to understand this fascinating natural behavior can deepen your appreciation for these remarkable birds.
Have you dealt with a broody hen in your flock? What methods worked best for you? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
What does “broody” mean and how do I recognize it?
When a hen is broody, it means her maternal instincts have kicked in. Her hormones are surging and telling her it’s time to sit on and hatch some eggs. There’s no exact science as to what makes a broody hen – it’s a combination of hormones and instinct. It is pretty easy to recognize a mother hen that has gone broody. There are certain breeds that tend to be more broody than others. For example, Batum hens are known for their broodiness.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_ src=”https://starmilling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/broody-hen-1024×768.jpg” alt=”a puffed-up, broody hen sitting on a clutch of eggs” title_text=”a puffed-up, broody hen sitting on a clutch of eggs” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|||46px||” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”15px|||45px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
A puffed-up, broody hen sitting on a clutch of eggs
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]She will not be in her usual active, curious mood. She will stay camped out in her nesting box, whether there’s eggs in it or not. When approached by you or other birds, she will puff her feathers up, get very defensive, make a unique growling sound, and even peck at intruders. A mama hen is being protective over her nest and is insistent when it comes to sitting on those eggs!
If your eggs aren’t fertile (no roosters present) or you haven’t acquired some fertile eggs for her to sit on
If your hen has gone broody, and there’s no possibility of her hatching eggs, you will need to stop her broody behavior, otherwise known as a “broody breaker”. Why should I? Because a broody hen will continue brooding until she hears the little peeps of baby chicks from her nest box. Otherwise, she will sit on eggs indefinitely. This can have a seriously negative impact on the health of a mother hen. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.8em” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”]