I've never had Buff Orpingtons. Are they big hens, or small? I like having a mixed flock and would like to mix it up more next year when the new henhouse gets built and will accomodate more chickens.
I guess there's no certain time that hens might go broody. I had one hen go broody and then another... then the rest of the hens stopped laying too. Except my little crazy hen, Lucy Bell, she was the only one leaving the coop, running around and then laying her egg here and there since the nest boxes were occupied!
They're still not laying eggs. I've been meaning to look into how long before they start laying again? It was really hard buying eggs at the store, they just aren't even close to being as good as the ones my hens lay!
