[lord flynn]

Bit fed up of this incubating lark-would rather get a hen to do it. No sign of any of mine becoming broody (don't think its been hot enough). So what I want is a breed that can cope with the environment here (windy, wet) and who'll sit. I know Scots Grey bantams sit but seem to be later in the summer.




I just know someone is going to say silky but would rather not-something hardy that can be kept with large fowl would be perfect.

[Steph Hen]

Sussex are top of my list. Light and buff, started brooding in March this year. Doesn't seem to take much to 'convince' them to brood either - pop them on dud eggs for day or two and they're ready to sit tight. I've had no problems getting them to foster chicks, and when they're not doing this they lay pretty well.

Have had orpingtons, and Orp crosses, think these were a bit too big and broke shells.
 Marans are good too.
I've never had broody silkies or bantams, so can't compare to them.

[bloomer]

its only my first year of broodies but my 2 maran mummys are psychotically protective of there babies and for first timers sat really well.

[lord flynn]

do the marans have feathered legs?


I didn't realise Susses sat, I've always liked them.

[bloomer]

not very feathered but they have incredibly thick fluffy under feathers...

[Bionic]

My light sussex is sitting tight on duck eggs at the moment 

[lord flynn]

hmm, I am not too bothered if they don't lay well themselves-I have enough eggs and don't really keep them for that anyway.


I will look about for some real Sussex and not a Sussex hybrid I think-thanks

[Blondie]

My pekins would go broody usually twice or three times each year and were very hard to break. (I never hatched).

Obviously a pekin is smaller so can't sit on as many as a large fowl BUT they eat less and so cost less to keep.

[devonlad]

Our light Sussex is constantly broody

[GeorgieB82]

All of our bantams go broody really easy, especially the Sussex breeds

[vfr400boy]

I don't think you can beat silky cross , I have 2 silky cross OEG and ther spot on all the showing lads I know use silky crosses , ( full silkys are good but the chicks can get stuck in the leg fethers )

[little bo peep]

I have used Speckled Sussex, this is her second year as a mum, always goes broody fairly early, extremely good sitter, good tempered, and a fab mum. Apparently with sussex the speckled is the most broody, then the buff and the light, I have also used a buff this year. My marans never go broody. I am up a hill in Cornwall, lots of wet and wind!

[Porterlauren]

Yer i'll go for the sussex to. Currently keep a pair of silver sussex bantams, not too small, so can hold their own, seem hardy enough and are on their third time of going broody this year at the moment. Just stuck some duck eggs under the one, so fingers crossed.

[OhLaLa]

Light Sussex. Good broodies. And Silkies of course.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I have 2 buff sussex. 1 of them went broody 2 mnths ago and she sat for 24-25 days, sadly hatching was a disaster.