broody – Page 4 – TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources

About the Welsummer

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The Welsummer rooster is rustic-red and orange in color and the hen is a light and dark brown partridge pattern with gold around the neck area. This dual-purpose large fowl lays large terracotta dark brown eggs, often with speckles. Expect about 160 eggs per year.
Features & Color Variations
Single comb, medium wattles, broad chest and back, wide full tail, and 4 toes. There are three variations of the standard Welsummer, Partridge, Silver Duckwing, and the Gold Duckwing. Recognized Varieties: Red Partridge
Behavior
Welsummers are friendly and intelligent, but not considered especially docile. They generally confine well but prefer to forage. Setter/broody: yes.
Bantams
The Welsummer Bantam lays light brown eggs, and their production is slightly higher than the standard at about 180 eggs per year. Bantams exist in both Partridge and Silver Duckwing colors but are rare.
Origin: Netherlands
Class: Continental
Type: Large Fowl
Size: Medium (6-7 lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual

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Breed Focus, About the Australorp

The Australorp is a great choice if you’re looking for an excellent layer of large brown eggs. Expect approximately five eggs per week from this *dual-purpose bird. Their color is black, their weight at maturity is 7-8 pounds, and they are docile, friendly, and considered shy.
About the Australorp
Single Comb
4 Toes
Broody/Setter
Confines Well
Average, 260 Eggs Yearly
Cold Hardy
Class: English • Rarity: Common
The Australorp is of Australian origin, developed as a utility breed with a focus on egg laying. It achieved worldwide popularity in the 1920s after the breed broke numerous world records for the number of eggs laid. The most popular color is black, which is the only color recognized in the United States. However, blue and white are also recognized in its home country. South Africa recognizes buff, splash, wheaten laced, and golden as well.
The Australorp is a great starter bird if you’re new to chicken keeping. The chicks are hardy and very easy to raise.
* Dual Purpose: provides 2 kinds of resources, meat & eggs.

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Why Hens Leave the Nest After Laying an Egg

A Hen Knows Best

Chickens never lay more than one egg per day. If the eggs are not collected, and a sufficient number of eggs are allowed to remain in the nest, the hen may stop laying eggs and start brooding. When the hen leaves the nest after laying an egg, it cools which suspends the development of the embryo inside.
If the temperature remains between 45F and 65F, the embryos will remain viable for as long as two weeks. When the hen becomes broody and sits on her eggs for three weeks, all of the eggs will hatch at about the same time. This is why it is normal for the hen to leave the nest after laying.
Remember, not all hens will sit on eggs…ever. However, some breeds have very strong tendencies to become broody or be inclined to incubate eggs.

Here are a Few Common Broody Breeds
Buff Orpingtons, Silkies, Cochins, & Brahmas

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A Hen Knows Best

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