Broody hens equals free food.

When you want a broody hen, you don’t have one. When you don’t care, they all brood. Not really, but that is how it seems sometimes.

A broody hen is a hen that collects their eggs, and sometimes other hen’s egg, then sets on them to create baby chicks. The hens then take care of the chicks and teach them to eat and forage. Plus, the hen keeps the baby chicks warm, so there is no need for lights.

This year we have three hens we’ve let set on eggs. We have two others now we are trying to break from brooding. Most likely, we will give up and just let them brood, too. It means fewer eggs each day. However, in 21 days there will be many more chicks.

Click below and watch.