I have a very young pullet that seems to be going broody. She is only 6 months old. Only being laying eggs for about a month. She was given to me as a black Rhode Island Red but cannot find any info on that breed. i am interested in raising my own chicks but not sure that is what she is doing. Been a couple fo days. She is a sweet hen. Not grouchy at all when I try to feel for eggs under her. Could she be broody this young and at this time of year?
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It is possible. I've never heard of a black RIR. You should not let a hen go broody during this weather; it gets excessively hot all puffed up in the nest box. To help break broodiness, normally, you can put her in a wire bottomed cage with food and water but no nest material this will usually break broodiness after about 72 hours, but because it's insanely hot right now, maybe for now you can just put some frozen water bottles or something similar underneath her to help keep her cool.
Yep-she can be broody this early. I had a hen that went broody over the first 12 eggs she laid. She hatched them and mothered them, too. I would caution against letting your hen brood fertilized eggs this time of year. My hen just hatched some-we lost four of them and I had to bring the remaining three inside with the mom today because it is too hot for them outside. Fall and Spring are great times for letting a hen brood and raise chicks-it's easier for you, too, because the hen will do all the work. Good luck, whatever you decide to do...
Yes, she can be broody, though it isn't common so early. We had a Buff Orpington go broody at about 7 or 8 months.