[princesspoultry]

   Hey, I have a few questions.


  1. Can a bantam rooster successfully breed a larger sized hen?

   2.I have 2 hens laying on the same nest. I tried to take 1 out and put her on her own but she left the eggs and went back with the other one. What will happen when they hatch? What should I do?

 3. I have a bantam who has no feathers on her belly. Any idea what that could be?
 
           Thank you very much for reading! I hope someone can help.
 
                                                                  Princess Poultry

[hillfooter]

  Hey, I have a few questions.


  1. Can a bantam rooster successfully breed a larger sized hen? If your mean can a bantam cock breed with a large fowl hen the answer is yes.  I guess the offspring could look a bit odd though.

   2.I have 2 hens laying on the same nest. I tried to take 1 out and put her on her own but she left the eggs and went back with the other one. What will happen when they hatch? What should I do?I assume you mean trying to hatch in, not laying, in the same nestbox.  It's perfectly normal for hens to use the same nestbox for laying as they try to lay a clutch of eggs before sitting on them.  A clutch can be built up over several days and they don't start to hatch until a hen sits and raises their temperature to their body temperature.  If you mean there are two hens sitting simultaniously trying to hatch one batch, firstly your nestboxes in the house are not intended or are suitable for hatching chicks they are for egg production.  If  you want a broody to hatch some eggs she should be put on her own in a special house which is suitable for chicks with a batch of eggs to sit on.   If you leave the eggs in a laying nestbox with two hens attempting to hatch them the liklihood is that they will get broken with the hens clambering in and out constantly as they eat and poop.  I have known two hens take turns at sitting on a batch but towards the end of the incubation one took over and hatched and raised the chicks.  The other stopped being broody and ignored the chicks.

 3. I have a bantam who has no feathers on her belly. Any idea what that could be?Yes she's going broody.  They strip the brest feathers to expose the eggs to their warm skin.  It's normal behaviour and nothing to worry about.  If you don't want to hatch eggs collect them more often and don't leave them in the nestboxes which encourages hens to go broody and sit when there is a batch available to be set.

Best wishes
HF
 
           Thank you very much for reading! I hope someone can help.
 
                                                                  Princess Poultry

[princesspoultry]

  Hey, I have a few questions.


  1. Can a bantam rooster successfully breed a larger sized hen? If your mean can a bantam cock breed with a large fowl hen the answer is yes.  I guess the offspring could look a bit odd though.

   2.I have 2 hens laying on the same nest. I tried to take 1 out and put her on her own but she left the eggs and went back with the other one. What will happen when they hatch? What should I do?I assume you mean trying to hatch in, not laying, in the same nestbox.  It's perfectly normal for hens to use the same nestbox for laying as they try to lay a clutch of eggs before sitting on them.  A clutch can be built up over several days and they don't start to hatch until a hen sits and raises their temperature to their body temperature.  If you mean there are two hens sitting simultaniously trying to hatch one batch, firstly your nestboxes in the house are not intended or are suitable for hatching chicks they are for egg production.  If  you want a broody to hatch some eggs she should be put on her own in a special house which is suitable for chicks with a batch of eggs to sit on.   If you leave the eggs in a laying nestbox with two hens attempting to hatch them the liklihood is that they will get broken with the hens clambering in and out constantly as they eat and poop.  I have known two hens take turns at sitting on a batch but towards the end of the incubation one took over and hatched and raised the chicks.  The other stopped being broody and ignored the chicks.

 3. I have a bantam who has no feathers on her belly. Any idea what that could be?Yes she's going broody.  They strip the brest feathers to expose the eggs to their warm skin.  It's normal behaviour and nothing to worry about.  If you don't want to hatch eggs collect them more often and don't leave them in the nestboxes which encourages hens to go broody and sit when there is a batch available to be set.

Best wishes
HF
 
           Thank you very much for reading! I hope someone can help.
 
                                                                  Princess Poultry

       Thank you very much for your reply! And yes I ment to type setting not laying.  Thanks again!
                                                         Princess Poultry