What does broody mean in chickens?

Meg Austin, www.ninnescahmade.com

A broody hen has a strong desire to sit on a clutch of eggs. She will patiently wait until the eggs hatch 21 days later. Our mama hen in this photo hatched 7 babies!

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Incubating Eggs

A broody hen will incubate the eggs with the intention of hatching chicks. A broody hen may become very focused on her nest, spending extended periods sitting on the eggs.

When will a hen go broody? - While broodiness is more common in the spring and summer, it can also occur at other times of the year, depending on environmental conditions and individual hen behavior.

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Ready to learn more? Read the full post at NinnescahMade.com to learn how to care for your broody hen.

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[{"selector":"#anim-d6019b24-f8e5-4b9f-bbea-718f0f36e21e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60d661c6-f524-4d06-aaca-7a414ba8cac3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-266.42336%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn how to choose hens that will lay the color of eggs you want! From browns, rust, olive and blue, there are so many to fall in love with! 2

[{"selector":"#anim-ba1f837d-0f69-4220-a97c-a97cf5847474","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3afb4608-7839-4cd3-a9e7-f29db0645ebe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-135.03651%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn how much space hens need to live comfortably, as well as tips for free ranging your flock. 3

[{"selector":"#anim-a7c7cd20-3b67-4332-8966-97d89348c8cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf6d8b48-1208-439b-b09d-5696e9e1c81f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-265.69342%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] How long do chicks need a heat lamp? Read this post to learn how to care for your baby chicks and what temperatures they require for the first weeks of life. 4

[{"selector":"#anim-289d1078-fbba-4e0d-9ea8-a88bdfc2b858","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-593b3f17-a344-42ed-8938-613402bebd11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-256.93431%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn about poultry grit and why it is beneficial for your flock. Smaller birds need smaller grit. Free range chickens may still need a bowl of grit, read to learn why! 5