I forgot to mention they are bantys and both of them have brooded with the roster. He's a little pecker who picks on everyone and i'd like to get rid of him but still want my hens to brood. Will they brood without him even though their hormones may not be being jumpstarted?

Yes, the hens will go broody when the urge strikes them, rooster or no. Banties, cochins and Silkies are especially famous for being great broodies & moms.

I assume you know that you DO need a roo in order to have fertile eggs that you can hatch, unless you get fertile eggs from someone. :)

Velvet ~:>

thanks velvet, we thought maybe but wanted an opinion or two.

Yes, hens will go broody with or without a rooster. One thing that *does* influence becoming broody is the number of eggs in their nest. If you take all the eggs out every day, the hens won't become broody as fast as they will if the eggs are there. My dad used to replace the eggs he took with golf balls, but I don't think all the hens were fooled by that.