The Top Broody Chicken Breeds For Hatching Chicks

Here are the top broody chicken breeds for hatching chicks at home!

Owning your own flock of chickens is a great way to provide a sustainable food source as well as decrease your kitchen waste. Not to mention, they’re just cute and fun to own.

However, hatching and brooding baby chickens isn’t exactly the easiest part of owning chickens. That’s why I love having a broody hen in my flock. She does the hard work for me.

Learn more about why I love a broody hen!

Broody chickens are also a great way to ensure you have a sustainable flock. She’ll hatch and replenish your chickens for you on a regular basis.

What is a Broody Hen?

A broody hen is one who has decided she wants to hatch eggs. Her natural instincts will kick in and make her go broody.

If she’s made up her mind, she will sit on a clutch of eggs until they hatch. She will sit on the eggs continuously eating and drinking very little.

This can be a problem if you don’t have a rooster around to fertilize the eggs.

If the eggs are unfertilized, it’s best to try to break her from being broody. Otherwise, the continuous sitting will be bad for her.

If the eggs are fertilized, they should hatch after about 21 days.

So how will you know if your hen is broody? Here are some signs:

She’s sitting on a clutch of eggs constantly day and night.
She gets puffy and fussy if you try to take the eggs from her.
She has a large poop instead of several small ones. It smells really bad too.
She has removed her feathers from her chest and abdominal area to sit on the eggs.

So which hens top the list for being broody? Here are the top broody chicken breeds.

Cochins

Cochins are some of the best moms I have. These feathered-footed girls have helped me easily grow my flock. They’re determined to sit, and they’re fierce mama too. Both bantam Cochins and average Cochins tend to be broody. Not only are they broody, but they’re also some of the friendliest.

Brahmas

Brahmas are known for being a heavy, large breed of chickens with thick feathering. They’re great for colder climates because they are naturally insulated.

They’re also great moms. They’ll commonly become broody and hatch chicks. They also make great moms and will do a great job of protecting their baby chicks.

Orpingtons

Orpingtons are some of the sweetest chickens you can have in your backyard flock. They’re great with small children and are very friendly and docile.

They’re also prone to being broody. Orpingtons are determined to sit and will raise chicks longer than any other moms I’ve ever had.

These birds are also great for cooler climates due to their thick features and heavy bodies.

They may not be best suited for really hot climates.

Silkies

Silkies are probably best known for their broody behaviors. These girls are fun to watch and own, but they don’t play when it comes to hatching chicks. Their hormones kick in regularly and they’re determined little mamas.

Silkies are great moms and hold their own protecting their chicks. However, they are smaller than other average size chickens, and they can be bullied.

Be sure to watch them carefully if you’re allowing them to raise chicks.

Black Australorp

Black Australorps are related to Orpingtons. They have heavy bodies and sleek black feathers. Australorps are also some of the best egg layers around!

They’re hardy in a lot of different climates and will occasionally go broody. While they aren’t as prone to sit as their Orpington cousins, they make excellent mothers.

Black Australorps are a great chicken if you want a great layer with broody tendencies.

Delaware

The Delaware is considered a multipurpose breed due to their thick bodies and size. However, they’re also excellent layers. Delaware’s are a heritage breed meaning their offspring carry their traits.

These qualities make them a great option for a sustainable flock. Not only are they dual-purpose birds, they’ll also hatch their own young.

My Delaware girls get that broody look in their eyes every spring. They’re also good moms when they hatch a clutch of chicks.

Bielefelder

The Bielefelder is a great dual-purpose backyard breed. They have really beautiful and unique feathers with sweet personalities to go along with them.

The Bielefelder roosters are some of the most beautiful to watch in your backyard. They also take great care of their hens.

Bielefelder hens will sometime go broody. Their large body size gives them the ability to sit on a lot of eggs at one time.

Once they hatch, they are excellent mothers and protect their chicks from the rest of the flock. If you want a sustainable flock, check out the Bielefelder!

Black Copper Maran

Marans are known for their beautiful dark chocolate eggs! These eggs are some of the most sought-after eggs among backyard chicken keepers.

Not only do they lay beautiful eggs, they also make excellent mothers. Black Cooper Marans are very sweet, calm, and docile and will help you maintain a sustainable flock.

Why Are Some Chicken Breeds More Likely To Be Broody?

Being broody causes a hen to stop laying eggs for a prolonged period of time while she’s sitting on her eggs.

This isn’t a trait that commercial egg producers want when they’re trying to get as many eggs as possible.

In order to have a chicken that produces eggs consistently, the trait of being a broody has been bred out of many egg-laying breeds.

Some breeds still retain their instinct to sit on eggs. These are more likely to be broody than others.

Can You Make Chickens Go Broody?

You can’t make a chicken go broody. It’s a natural instinct she’ll get when the time is right for her. However, hens are more likely to want to sit on eggs when the days begin to get longer.

She will sometimes feel the urge to sit on eggs if she sees a nest full of them. If you move her to a quiet place, and place a nest full of eggs in front of her, you can help her natural instincts kick in.

What To Do If Your Chicken Goes Broody?

If you have a broody hen and want to deter her from sitting there are some things you can do.

Move her to a pen with a wire bottom by herself.

The wire bottom will encourage air flow which will lower her body temperature. A hen’s body temperature will naturally increase when she is broody. Cooling her off will help stop her from wanting to sit.

Also, the wire bottom isn’t comfortable. She won’t be able to settle in.

Do chickens care if they’re not sitting on their own eggs?

Chickens will sit on any eggs. I often put eggs under a broody hen, and she’ll accept them. If you have a broody hen sitting on unfertilized eggs, you can place fertilized eggs under her and she’ll hatch them.

Helpful Tips for Caring For Your Broody Chicken

Here are some tips to keep your hen comfy while she’s brooding:

Make Her Quiet Nest

If she’s gone broody in the nesting box, try moving her to a separate space. A small crate or private corner of the coop works great. Just know that she might decide to sit once she’s moved.

Food and Water Station

Broody hens are determined and will sit on eggs without eating and drinking. Place food and water close by so she doesn’t have to go far.

Keep Her Safe

Brooding can make hens territorial. If she’s with the rest of the flock, make sure her space is safe to keep other hens off her nest while she sits.

Mark The Eggs

It’s not uncommon for other hens to lay eggs in the same nest as your sitting hen. Especially if you don’t have her protected and separated, lightly mark the eggs with a marker so you’ll know which ones are supposed to be there.

Final Thoughts On The Best Broody Chicken Breeds

Picking the best broody hen breed depends on what you’re looking for. Some hens are natural mothers, ready to hatch and raise chicks like it’s their life’s mission. Others might go broody less often but still make great moms when they do.

Whether you’re hoping to grow your flock the old-fashioned way or just love watching a hen care for her chicks, choosing the right breed makes all the difference.

No matter which breed you pick, there’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing a mother hen with her tiny chicks trailing behind her.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it!

More From The Farm

Are you looking for an Easy DIY Chicken Waterer to provide your backyard chickens with fresh water while you’re away? This simple setup is perfect for the job. It’s easy and inexpensive to make and will make chicken keeping a little easier for the busy homesteader.