A broody chicken can frustrate new chicken keepers at first. When a hen goes broody, she stops laying eggs, spends most of her time sitting on the nest and may become protective or even a little grumpy. Because of this behavior, many beginners avoid chicken breeds known for broodiness.

After a few years of keeping chickens and ordering chicks from hatcheries, however, many flock owners change their minds. Allowing a broody chicken to hatch and raise chicks naturally can be one of the most rewarding parts of backyard chicken keeping.

Key Takeaways

• A broody chicken is a hen that naturally wants to sit on eggs and hatch chicks.
• Broody hens usually stop laying eggs while incubating and caring for chicks.
• Silkies are considered one of the most dependable broody hen breeds.
• Cochins, Orpingtons, Brahmas and Sussex chickens are also known for strong mothering instincts.
• Choosing a broody chicken breed can make natural hatching easier for backyard flock owners.
• Many broody chicken breeds are calm, friendly and well-suited for family flocks.

If you’re ready to try natural hatching, these chicken breeds are among the best choices for dependable broody hens.

Silkie: The Ultimate Broody Chicken

The Silkie (pictured above) is, hands down, one of the most dependable broody chicken breeds. As a bantam breed, it’s rather petite but incredibly docile, considered by some to be the chicken version of a lapdog. Its easygoing nature and soft, fur-like feathers makes it a perfect chicken mama. These ornamental birds are easy to find and also make a great pet chicken for kids.

Cochin: A Gentle Broody Chicken Breed

The Cochin hen runs a tight race for top honors among broody chicken breeds and comes up just short. A Chinese breed, just like the Silkie, the Cochin is known for being big, sweet, fluffy and docile. It’s available in a variety of colors and feather patterns, including Frizzled. Although it doesn’t lay as well as some of the dual-purpose breeds, it makes a fantastic mother and an all-around great pet chicken.

Orpington: A Family-Friendly Broody Chicken

This English dual-purpose breed gets its name from the town of Orpington near London, where it originated. It’s incredibly cold-hardy, thanks to its fluffy, loose feathers that make it look heftier than it actually is. The Orpington is also a gentle bird with a sweet personality. Unlike Silkies and Cochins, Orpingtons are first-rate layers of light brown eggs. The breed is recognized in several color varieties, with Buff, a beautiful golden-yellow color, being the most popular. It’s a favorite of family flocks and a perfect breed for children to care for, due to its gentle nature, making it a favorite broody chicken breed for family flocks.

Brahma: A Cold-Hardy Broody Chicken

The Brahma is a gentle giant and another wonderfully sweet and broody chicken breed. Quiet, calm and even-tempered, it’s exceptionally cold-hardy and the hens are great winter layers. Because of its feathered legs and shanks, it’s best not to keep this breed in excessively wet or muddy regions, as moisture can cling to the feathers, leading to frostbite on the toes. Otherwise, the Brahma is a great addition to flocks, especially in northern regions. It handles confinement very well and isn’t as active as other breeds that prefer to forage; this makes them great for smaller spaces, too.

Sussex: A Reliable Broody Chicken Breed

The Sussex is a reliable layer and has a reputation for laying dependably through winter. It’s friendly and very curious by nature. The Speckled variety has a unique feather pattern that effectively camouflages the bird from most predators—a boon when free-ranging. The Sussex is listed as “Recovering” on the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List, which is a great reason to try this broody chicken breed.

FAQs About Broody Chickens

What is a broody chicken?

A broody chicken is a hen that wants to sit on eggs and hatch chicks. During this time, she may stop laying eggs, stay on the nest most of the day and become protective of her nesting area.

How long does a broody chicken stay on the nest?

A broody chicken typically sits on eggs for about 21 days, which is the normal incubation period for chicken eggs.

Are broody chickens good mothers?

Most broody hens are excellent mothers. Many breeds instinctively protect, warm and teach their chicks after hatching.

Which chicken breed is the most broody?

Silkies are widely considered one of the broodiest chicken breeds and are often used to hatch eggs from other poultry species.

Can a broody chicken hatch eggs without an incubator?

Yes. A broody hen naturally provides warmth, humidity and egg turning during incubation, making an incubator unnecessary in many backyard flocks.

Choosing the right broody chicken breed can make natural hatching much easier and more enjoyable for backyard flock owners. Whether you prefer the dependable mothering instincts of a Silkie or the cold-hardy nature of a Brahma, a good broody hen can successfully hatch and raise chicks with very little assistance. For many chicken keepers, watching a broody hen care for her chicks is one of the most rewarding experiences in the coop.

This article was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.