Post by Shawn on Jun 17, 2011 12:43:18 GMT -5
Well for the first time in the 17 years here, I've got broody hens popping up everywhere.
The first was a sex link hen. She was SERIOUS about it, so after three days I gave her 7 eggs. She laid one or two more and hatched out five chicks.
The second was a Silver Spangled Hamburg hen that was hidden somewhere. She showed up with one lone chick (maybe the cats got the rest?) and is fiercely protective of it and getting along fine. Now a few days ago another sex link hen is trying to set in the barn. Last night, I locked her in the area and gave her some eggs and I'll give her some more tonight. I don't care how many I have, I just wish they'd sex the eggs so I only get pullets. LOL
I've never had an Orpington go broody at all. That was my purpose in buying them, too, but they just wouldn't do it. I also bought a banty hen and she did set for several weeks on different clutches, but I think my rooster that year was a dud and she never hatched out any viable chicks. She mysteriously disappeared and her daughter now roams the yard (half banty/half Buff Orpington) and she is not interested at all. Go figure.
You should never give them more than they can realistically cover (so depends on size of hen) as the eggs on the outside will chill and not do well, then be rolled to the inside and more will chill. I know some hens can cover a lot of eggs, but some won't cover them as well. Of course in the heat of summer, it's not quite the issue it is in the cold spring.
The first was a sex link hen. She was SERIOUS about it, so after three days I gave her 7 eggs. She laid one or two more and hatched out five chicks.
The second was a Silver Spangled Hamburg hen that was hidden somewhere. She showed up with one lone chick (maybe the cats got the rest?) and is fiercely protective of it and getting along fine. Now a few days ago another sex link hen is trying to set in the barn. Last night, I locked her in the area and gave her some eggs and I'll give her some more tonight. I don't care how many I have, I just wish they'd sex the eggs so I only get pullets. LOL
I've never had an Orpington go broody at all. That was my purpose in buying them, too, but they just wouldn't do it. I also bought a banty hen and she did set for several weeks on different clutches, but I think my rooster that year was a dud and she never hatched out any viable chicks. She mysteriously disappeared and her daughter now roams the yard (half banty/half Buff Orpington) and she is not interested at all. Go figure.
You should never give them more than they can realistically cover (so depends on size of hen) as the eggs on the outside will chill and not do well, then be rolled to the inside and more will chill. I know some hens can cover a lot of eggs, but some won't cover them as well. Of course in the heat of summer, it's not quite the issue it is in the cold spring.