4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[HENthusiastic]

Hi guys,

 

For those of you who have experience of hatching under broodies, I was hoping to run my plan past you for some feedback please to see if its okay?

 

Henrietta was persistently broody last summer. This year I have a friend who has a cockrel and who has said I can have some of her fertile eggs. This is the plan;

 

Put pencil marks on the fertile eggs.

Put them under Henrietta. (In wooden house in walk in run).

Leave Henrietta where she is with the others (currently only 3 hens in accomodation for 6, so lots of space to lay eggs).

Throw her off nest to eat, drink and poo daily. While shes off nest, remove unfertile eggs.

Near to hatch date transfer Henrietta and eggs to eglu and run next door to walk in run.

If we move her would we risk breaking her brood? Also, would the other two accept her back without too much trouble if we kept them all in sight of each other. We could chuck her off the nest with the others while they are freeranging.

 

Boys are accounted for. The friend who has the fertile eggs is going to take all the birds back except for 2 hens which we will keep.

[laurmurf]

fab questions, HEN, i want to know the answers to all of those too! This is exactly what we're doing with Willow.

 

 

btw - you really should have come yesterday (even if only to the cafe after 'the deeds' were done). We missed you and you really would have enjoyed the crack!

[laurmurf]

just found this (brief) advice from the Poultry club.

here's the link:

http://www.poultryclub.org/ACHatch.htm

[HENthusiastic]

Thanks for that link. Its really helpful.