Broody Hens

With all 3 of my pekin bantams now broody I am thinking of getting one of them some eggs to sit on!

I've not done this before so have a few questions:

1 - Need to find broody coop!  Could I convert an old rabbit hutch I have (it's quite large!!)
2 - Realistically how many eggs could my little pekin site on?  She's only teeny!
3 - and advise?  I've off to do some reasearch elsewhere anyhow.
4 - cockrels!  I can't keep them so they'll have to be despastched! (this isn't a question - I've just got to get over it as I live in a built up area so they'll have to go before they start making a noise).

Thanks

Hannah

Well my little girl is now sat on 6 eggs!

I know it's quite late in the year but I will just have to see how it goes.

With regards to being prepared of cockrels - I keep saying I'm prepared!

Thansk

you now need to think food, if medicated the hen and chicks need to be kept separate because if the other hens eat it you will need to throw your eggs away.
What eggs did you buy?

piccys please

[/url]image by Willow_Warren, on Flickr\

Ok, so they are getting way more active and starting to eat me our of house and home...

They are only getting chick crumb still, but for such little birds really starting to munch through it, of course Lily is taking her share

So cute keep looking a them to see if I can tell who are boys and who are girls, but so far I can't tell any difference... but they're only a week and a half old!

Hannah

They are a variety if Pekin bantams, two are the same but all other different.  The women offered to write down for me what they were but I said no, but kind of regretting that now... 2 are frizzles. I'm sure their colours will show through befor long.

They are total nutters in the morning and getting more active by the day!  They are still in the hutch and wondering when I could start introducing them to the lawn, enclosed, they are way to diddly to free range yet, Even my own cat might see them as dinner and wouldn't want that...

Hannah 

Well the the little chicks are now approaching 6 weeks old...

They are slightly apporaching "an ugly duckling stage".

It looks as though I have 3 boys and 3 girls.... (anyone looking for a pekin bantam cockrel!!)

I really only had plans if I had an even number of girls.  2 girls I'd keep them both.  If i'd got 4 girls I'd rehome 2 and keep 2.  But 3 is confusing me!  I wouldn't want to rehome just one on their own as that's not right... I'd really like to keep at least 2.

I only have a standard eglu so whilst I'd be ok with 5 in there I'm not sure there's room for 6 (I have 3 adults already).

Anyhow, they had their first adventure out in the garden at the weekend,  they seems to enjoy themeselves and were incredably cute, although I had to keep counting to 6 to make sure I hadn't lost any as they are still quite small!

Hannah