Isabel Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 My Orpington has just gone broody and I'm toying with putting some eggs under her. Advice would be much appreciated! Ideally I'd like to try Maran/Wyandotte or maybe Orpington eggs. I would be happy to despatch any boys at a young age but equally happy to raise them for table birds before despatch! So first question, are these breeds likely to be good for meat? Second, what do I need? Will she need a separate coop - thinking of chicks we'd need something low, wouldn't we? Slightly stupid questions now - how many eggs would it be advisable to put under her? Really, I would only want to keep two girls to put with our older girls when they're big enough. How long will she sit on them for? Finally, if our Orp is kept separate from the other two girls for a period of time, will she have difficulty going back in with them? Maybe a crazy idea but one I toyed with last year too. Thanks Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 All of those breeds take a while to mature unfortunately so you'd have a few crowing cockerels before you would have roast dinners! Wyandottes and Marans would mature to a decent weight but an Orp would take an absolute age and even then not produce masses of meat - they are all feathers as I am sure you realise yes you would need a separate coop and one low to the ground. for a bantam a rabbit hutch and run is fine but for an Orp you'd need something bigger, they can be clumsy broodies and so need room to move comfortably Introducing a bird back to the flock isnt so bad if she has been in sight throughout her motherhood stint, its a situation to monitor but should be ok Dont forget that the youngsters will need room to grow up in, the broody will leave them at about 6 weeks but it will be another 10-12 weeks before the pullets can start to be introduced to your other hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Thanks Redwing - that's really useful information. I've moved ahead and have 12 eggs en-route ... 6 Cuckoo Marans, 3 each of Gold Laced Orps and Gold Laced Wyandottes. The Marans and Wyandotte boys will be destined for the table. The Orps ... yes, big balls of fluff! Will either just despatch the boys or rehome them, if possible. We have rigged up a labrador-sized dog kennel. Made a small nest area at the back and will put food and water in obviously. We're moving her out after dark tonight with her existing, infertile eggs to give her a couple of days to settle before adding real eggs! Our henhouse has a run which the girls don't use as they free range so the kennel now opens into the opposite end of the run to the coop, if you see what I mean, and we'll put a wire divider across so as to keep Mum and hopefully chicks contained. Hmm ... had hoped they could f/r with the others from 7-8 weeks but if they need more space than is available in the run, then I'd better start untangling the electric fencing now! Fingers crossed it will work out and we'll get some eggs to hatch - don't know who's more excited ... me or the children!! Thanks again Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Good luck! It's a wonderful experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Thanks Surfer. We moved her last night - she was only on one egg as DH had cleared 3 from under yer yesterday morning before I told him of my plans . Just checked her and she's sitting tight. I slipped another egg under to see what she does and left her food and water. She showed no interest in escaping when I opened the door and we also lifted the roof off for me to access her nest box - she barely looked up. Hope it's a good omen - keeping her locked in today though and then tomorrow will give her access to the run. Eggs will be here tomorrow - one of the gentlemen advised me to let them sit at room temp for 24 hours and then slip them under one at a time over a few hours - rather than hitting her with a dozen cold eggs in one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Good luck with your eggs. I would love to have a go at hatching some chicks but I know I would have a problem with any roosters. I a) couldn't dispatch them & b) the neighbours would have the noise police on me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
