If you’ve ever reached into a nesting box and been met with a fluffed-up, growling hen who seems to have transformed into a tiny dragon overnight—you’ve met a broody hen!
But don’t worry—this is totally normal! In fact, it means your hen’s instincts are alive and well.
In this blog, we’ll help you understand what “broodiness” is, why it happens, how to spot the signs, and what your options are if you’d like to encourage (or discourage) her behavior.
What Does “Broody” Mean?
When a hen goes broody, it means she’s decided it’s time to hatch eggs. Her body and brain are telling her: “Stay on the nest. Warm these eggs. Be a mama!”
This is part of a chicken’s natural reproductive cycle. She stops laying new eggs and becomes fiercely devoted to incubating the ones already in her nest—sometimes even if there are no eggs under her at all!
Common Signs Your Hen Is Broody
Here’s how to know if your hen has gone full-on mama mode:
- She refuses to leave the nesting box, even overnight
- She growls, puffs up, or pecks when you try to move her
- She plucks out chest feathers to keep eggs warm
- She stops laying eggs
- She only leaves briefly to eat, drink, or poop—and her poops are huge and smelly (seriously!)
What Should You Do?
Now that you’ve identified your broody hen, you’ve got two options:
1. Let Her Hatch Eggs
If you’ve been dreaming of chicks, this might be your moment! All you need is:
- Fertile eggs (from a rooster or ordered online)
- A safe, quiet nesting area
- Patience (incubation takes 21 days)
Broody hens can be excellent mothers, raising chicks naturally and teaching them all the chicken-y ways of the world.
Need fertile eggs? We’ve got you covered. Shop Fertile Hatching Eggs
2. Break the Broody Cycle
Not planning for chicks? Broodiness can interfere with egg production and even affect your hen’s health if she doesn’t eat or drink enough.
To “break” the cycle:
- Remove her from the nest repeatedly
- Block off access to nesting boxes
- Place her in a well-ventilated wire-bottom cage (“broody breaker”) for a few days with food and water
Pro Tip: Be gentle and consistent. Some hens give up after a day or two. Others are... determined.
Is It Bad for a Hen to Be Broody?
Not at all! Broodiness is natural. But it does require your attention. If a broody hen is left too long without proper care—or sitting on unfertilized eggs—she can become stressed or even ill.
That’s why understanding the signs and making a plan is the best gift you can give her (and yourself).
You’re Not Alone—We’re Here to Help
Whether you’re navigating your first broody hen or planning to let her raise chicks, My Pet Chicken is your go-to guide. We’ve helped thousands of backyard chicken keepers raise happy, healthy flocks—and we’d love to help you too.
Got questions about your hen’s behavior? Drop us a line—we love chicken talk.
4 comments
I have four hens are laying and I have two roosters but none of the hens are broody …can I help them be broody?
———
My Pet Chicken replied:
Great question! Broodiness is mostly driven by hormones, and some hens simply have stronger instincts for it than others. It’s not something you can force, but you can encourage the instinct a bit.
Try leaving a few fake or dummy eggs in one of the nest boxes to signal that it’s a good, safe spot for hatching. Make sure the area is dim, quiet, and feels private — that can sometimes help trigger a hen’s nesting instincts.
That said, if none of your hens have ever gone broody, they may just not be the broody type. Breeds like Silkies and Cochins tend to go broody more often than, say, Leghorns or Easter Eggers.
If you’re hoping to hatch chicks and your ladies stay uninterested, an incubator can be a great backup option — you’ll still get to enjoy the hatching experience!
I have recently discovered one of my 2 hens is broody! At least that’s what I’m assuming, she has all the above signs besides the fact that she is still continuing to lay everyday. My only problem is that I do not have a rooster and I’m not sure how this will affect her? I do remove the eggs daily, but she still lays in the nest most of the day and all night.
———
My Pet Chicken replied:
That definitely sounds like a broody girl! Some hens’ hormones just kick in, even without a rooster around. It’s perfectly normal for her to continue laying for a bit before she fully settles into “broody mode.” Since her eggs aren’t fertile, they won’t hatch, so it’s best to keep collecting them daily like you’ve been doing.
If she stays determined in the nest, you can either let her ride it out (it usually passes in a few weeks) or gently break her broodiness by limiting nest time and keeping her somewhere cool and well-lit for a few days. Either way, she’ll be just fine—this is all part of being a hen with strong motherly instincts!
In the past I have been successful putting live chicks under my broody hen. This particular hen was determined and an excellent mother. I currently have a pretty committed broody hen and am thinking about trying live chicks again. Not sure how many chicks she could handle though. Any advice?
———
My Pet Chicken replied:
Thank you for your question! It’s always such a joy to see a dedicated broody raise chicks and how many she can handle really depends on her size and the weather. Most standard hens do well with 6–8, while bigger girls may can take 10 or more. The main thing is making sure they can all fit under her at once, especially at night. If you try it, slip the chicks under her after dark and check in the morning to be sure she’s accepted them. Sounds like you’ve got a great mama on your hands! If we can assist in a great selection of new babies, reach out to us anytime!
My hens have been laying on eggs but none of them are hatching! An after about a month they quit laying on them a they have dead babies in them! Any answers why?
———
My Pet Chicken replied:
I’m so sorry you’ve had this experience—it can be really discouraging to have broody hens sit faithfully on eggs only to end up with none hatching. There are a few possible reasons why this could be happening.
In some cases, where no rooster is available or he isn’t actively mating, the eggs your hens are sitting on may not be fertile at all—meaning they simply won’t develop. Since she you mentioned chicks in the eggs, there are other possible reasons.
Fluctuating temperatures under the hen, especially if she’s getting off the nest too often. Bacterial contamination if the nest or eggs are soiled and poor nutrition or health of the broody hen, can all affect her ability to incubate effectively.
Sometimes, the eggs may have developed partially but something went wrong late in incubation (like humidity or turning issues) and the chicks didn’t survive to hatch. It’s also possible your hen may not be staying broody consistently, which interrupts incubation and dooms embryo development.
Wishing you and your hens better hatching success ahead!