good_egg Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Hello..... Haven't posted for ages, but have (just about) been keeping up..... Now that spring has sprung (ish) we are back to regular broody spells from Dot and generally thinking a couple more might be nice.... That said introductions have previously been stressful and our previous crazy bully hen having been rehomed I'm a bit nervous. I think we will try and rig up a sperate set up within sight and free range together, but not immediately in our WIR..... But the big question is - do I rig up a nursery and let Dot hatch or do I rig up an intro pen? Our local breeder would deal with the boys for us, but I can't work out which is more stressful? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 With an incubator hatch you can handle the chicks and will end up with them very tame, which makes future life very easy IF you keep handling them. The risk is power cuts or equipment failure. With a broody hatch you risk Dot and the eggs, as it takes a lot out of them and you don't get friendly chicks in my experience, but you can really just let her get on with it and hope. With Pol's you spend more and they are less likely to be really friendly, but there are no risks at all. So for a stress free increase in your flock I'd get Pol's. We hatch all of ours in an incubator. We have spares and a generator and a mains failure alarm. Stressful!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 I have hatched twice using a broody and would hatch again if it weren't for the boys my pekins have been wonderful mothers even hatching Orpington chicks last year I have found that existing hens are so used to seeing the chicks the are just accepted with not so much as a glance. For me it would be a broody every time its lovely to watch mum teach them and protect them and keep them warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Hello good egg Long time no see I hatched 2 years ago and it was a little stressful, but very enjoyable too I found that these hens were really easily integrated in the flock once old enough Where as my recent additions have been a nightmare.....yes a bully hen here too I even got another cockerel and while he keeps the peace while they are free ranging......shut them in the run and she pulls the fluffy bottoms bald She lives in a classic alongside the cube.......it's a work in progress!!!!!!!!! I would hatch again (have been tempted lately too.....what with a beautiful boy in house ) my only worry is boys, I got 4 boys and 3 girls from 2 broody hens on 2 lots of 6 eggs. Some don't hatch (all my own eggs hatched though just some of the bought eggs and I lost a chick day 3 also a bought egg) Broody hens just get on with it That said I did have to turf mine off the nest every morning to poop, drink and eat, or they didn't budge!!!!! Please keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I would love to hatch. Ive had a 3 week old chick before, that was great. Haven't got any more room at the moment and "Ooops, word censored!"ody to take the boys. If I did I would definitely have a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 I'm getting more tempted... Mimi and others, did you hatch in seperate run alongside yours? If so did you FR together? From what age? I'm thinking if I did would have to set up a broody wing/eglu where they could be seen and make sure Dot went out lots.... I suppose I could fit something small in actual WIR.... Hmmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Our broodies go into a specially constructed 'rearing units' which consists of a small coop with secure run attached covered with 12mm weld mesh. The top is covered for rain protection. The sides of the run are boarded to 9" to give wind protection to the chicks and the whole unit can be lifted in one piece and moved. They look very similar to a rabbit hutch and run but with a pop hole that is lifted from the outside. We put them anywhere we have space. Important that they are moved to clean ground when the chicks hatch as the mother will have done some really nasty poos in the run during incubation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Just think about what you'll do with the boys and where you'll keep them for 16 weeks before they can be integrated. At least with POL they are guaranteed girls, (usually) vaccinated and easy to integrate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Just think about what you'll do with the boys and where you'll keep them for 16 weeks before they can be integrated. At least with POL they are guaranteed girls, (usually) vaccinated and easy to integrate Excellent advice from lwescott regardless of the method of hatching this has to be your main priority sadly I won't hatch again until am I a position to keep any boys mentally I couldn't ever be able to dispatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Our broodies go into a specially constructed 'rearing units' which consists of a small coop with secure run attached covered with 12mm weld mesh. The top is covered for rain protection. The sides of the run are boarded to 9" to give wind protection to the chicks and the whole unit can be lifted in one piece and moved. Ditto here As you don't have to worry re any boys I would say do some reading up and go for it You will need ground sanitizer and bits and bobs like a chick drinker (of course lots of advice on here ) I'd get some coxoid in just in case you need it (I did) Also settle your broody in to her "broody" coop and make sure she's serious as one of mine wanted to give up after 2 days ......we got her over it by closing her in, phew. Actually, that was why I had 2 broodies, as I felt the first lot of eggs were doomed! Also get her in to a routine of being lifted off once a day, to do all the necessaries!! Yes broody poos are be warned Then if you always have them in sight and sound and start with free ranging it should go well. It is a slow process of integration, but enjoyable to watch them develop and grow They learn a lot from their "mum" if she's a good hen Keep us posted, whatever you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 still debating.... Dot seems fairly committed whenever she goes broody, but us being on holiday was a good test as she spent the whole week in the nest box (other than my MIL turfing her off once a day).... We managed to dissuade her when we came home, but I think she would be a good mum.... Her mum is one of the breeders best broodies so might be in the genes! Will definitely keep you posted. As you say, it isn't often that you get the opportunity to do and not have to worry about what to do with boys, although I'm sure it will be hard enough handing them over to the breeder knwoing their fate! :-S Thanks for advice..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Meadow poultry near Thetford are doing a fertile eggs deal where any boys are taken back and replaced with hens someone asked about the returning boys they said the have enough acreage to keep them as breeding stock more expensive than the usual hatching eggs but a solution for those who can't keep the boys and want to hatch perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 On the face of it that sounds like a good deal to me Keyhole Kate. But thinking ahead it is rather more problematic than I immediately realised. At what age do the chicks sex? How would you introduce new hens into the existing flock? What diseases and pests would they bring with them? Would they be immunised when the hatched chicks are not? Will cockerels really be released in with others? What about predators and injuries from fighting? Surely it is kinder to cull them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
