raising chicks

NATHAN · « **on:** October 17, 2007, 03:55 »

I was wondering, if and when one of my hens becomes broody can i buy a couple of fertile eggs and slip them under her for her to raise as her own? I have 3 hens at present and would not mind expanding a little. I don't really want to go down the road of incubators and stuff when i have a nice warm hen who will do the job for me.

Bodger · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2007, 07:03 »

Its as natural as natural can be. Not all eggs hatch of course, so I'd give yourself a few more chances than " just a couple"

psipower · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2007, 08:02 »

or, if you want to be certain of having hens rather than cockerels, you could get some day-old chicks from an auto-sexing breed.

Have your broody sitting on the appropriate number of 'eggs' (can be pretend ones - as long as she sits on them!). Then when the chicks arrive, keep them near her for a while e.g. 1 hour so she can hear their cheeps, then every so often slide a chick under her and remove an egg.

Bodger · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2007, 09:01 »

Night time is the time to do that

muntjac · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2007, 11:12 »

yes it is ,but dont go taking 5 pot eggs n leaving her 8 chicks ,poor * gonna think she got a set triplets :shock: :roll:

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2007, 13:09 »

Sounds wonderful - If only I had the space

cherrypie · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2007, 08:24 »

nathan i'm a new chicken keeper, i a was given a broody bantum in April i bought her 4 full sized fertile eggs, 3 hatched, two are cockerals and the other hasn't started laying yet (they are 22 weeks old now) it's been great fun and and not difficult to do. i've had a few questions but people here have always come up trumps with an answer. i'd go for the eggs not the one day old chicks it is sooooooo exciting waiting for them to hatch, a bit tedious waiting for them to start to lay and going to be sad when i dispense with the cockerals, but hey it's the old circle of life. good luck
cherrypie

NATHAN · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2007, 16:26 »

Thanks for the replys. Do i have to wait until spring or can it be any time of the yesr that the hens will go broody? Sorry if this is a stupid question

muntjac · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2007, 20:13 »

its not stupid mate .leave it till spring thne your not worrying about the chicks over the cold period and the hen is more than likly to incubate them then when its warmer

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raising chicks

Bodger

Bodger