lindafw Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I have found my missing hen....all snuggled up brooding eggs! They will be Dorking cross Buff Orpington. The question is do I let her get on with it and suffer from Morehens by proxy or do i shoo her off and steal the eggs! I have no idea how they will turn out as Dorkings have Orpington in their breeding lineage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 It depends on a few things I guess If the hen has been missing for a while and the eggs are quite far along in development you may be understandably reluctant to remove them How many eggs is the hen sat on? do you have a separate space for her to brood in, raise the chicks in and have the growing birds in till they are at least 18 weeks? Also how many would you want to keep and what would you do with the others? crossbred girls arent hugely sought after but should find homes ok, crossbred boys are practically worthless, if you cant rehome them you need a plan for them Its a lovely idea to hatch chicks but it isnt for everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 I will be trying to check her out later today..its hard to tell as I have 2 Dorkings and its difficult to tell the two apart (yes they are ringed but you don't always see feet in the grass) I think she sloped off yesterday will steal and egg and candle it then make a decision. I think Cross bred boys will have to be dispatched as soon as I can sex them! I am sure many will not agree with that solution but the truth is excess males can only ever be a food source in this household (we have snakes and lizards who will be fed the meat) It depends how far on she is as to what I do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 Thanks for being the only one talking to me. Have turfed her off the twelve eggs and checked them. she can have only just have started brooding so have removed them and put her back with the flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
