broodier

Broodier is a term used to describe a bird or animal that is more inclined to brood than average. In poultry contexts, a broodier individual tends to sit on eggs to incubate them and to guard the nest, often at the expense of continued egg production. Broodiness is a natural maternal instinct in many birds, particularly chickens, ducks, and other fowl.

Biology and variation: Broodiness is driven by hormonal changes, especially elevations in prolactin, and is influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as day length. Some breeds are described as highly broodier, while others have been selected for low broodiness to sustain regular laying. The degree of broodiness can vary within a flock and can be modified by management practices.

Agricultural relevance: In egg production, broodiness reduces daily egg output and can complicate hatchery scheduling. Breeding programs often select for reduced broodiness to improve laying performance, while other programs may preserve or exploit broodier lines for hatchery reliability. When a hen becomes broodier, farmers may remove eggs from the nest, separate the hen, or use artificial incubation to continue production.

Context and terminology: The term broodier is primarily used in aviculture and poultry science. It may be applied comparatively to describe individuals or strains with stronger nesting and incubation behaviors than average. Outside poultry, the concept of broodiness exists in a general sense, but the specific term broodier is not widely used.