Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: nerdle on March 27, 2019, 08:37

Title: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: nerdle on March 27, 2019, 08:37

I'm still in mourning for my Chocolate girl but the garden is dead without hens roaming...

I have one hen left now - she's a sqwawking, broody aggressive unfriendly madam.  I was honest about this with my vet who still offered to adopt her (she is down to two hens from twenty).  She seems fine on her own as I'm here most of the time.

So - either start again with three 8 week chicks or wait until madam is broody and order hatching eggs (reliable scource)?..   and then dispose of little boys (too hard for me)!!!

Anyone done this?

Title: Re: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: cressrt on March 27, 2019, 10:20

I would rehome ex battery, good for them and you!

Title: Re: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: Debz on March 27, 2019, 11:39

We re-homed caged girls and they are funny to watch learning to be hens and trying new foods.

Title: Re: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: nerdle on March 27, 2019, 12:17

Rehoming is a lovely idea but a standard sized hen would destroy the garden completely.  Bantams leave a few blades of grass.  I don't want a run - whole garden fox proofed.
xx

Title: Re: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: grinling on March 27, 2019, 19:41

Depending on the supplier will depend on how good they are sexing, I have always used a broody and have the chicks protective about mum, so they should get on better. I was able to home boys.

Title: Re: Chicks or hatch?
Post by: nerdle on March 28, 2019, 08:08

Last time I started out with three (8 weeks) and the supplier had given me a boy my mistake.  He looked different from the start and I know how to tell now!
If a supplier would be happy to take back the boys I'd like to let my broody hatch some eggs. It's where to get them from I don't know.   

The search commences! x