another hen gone broody

darcyhen · « **on:** July 07, 2009, 17:59 »

Hi,
I have seven chicks aged 4/5 weeks old and they are now back in the hen house with mummy.
Now another hen, Doris looks broody. I am tempted to get some eggs for her. Firstly as it seems mean not to treat her the same as Henrietta, the first broody. secondly because it was sooo exciting having the chicks hatch.
I think we have 2 hens out of the 7 chicks so i have room for more chickens.
Doris, the current broody is the bottom hen. If i get her some eggs will i have any problems? She's also the most skittish, does that mean she might not be very good mum? Will she be able to stand up to the other hens and protect her chicks?
Also, any recommendations on Chickens.... now i've opened the floodgates!!! Perhaps that shold come under another topic.
Michelle

Roughlee Handled · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2009, 18:10 »

I have plenty of recommendations, but firstly have you got the space for more chickens?

darcyhen · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2009, 18:15 »

yes, they all free range and we've a big walled garden and an orchard. Husband handy so can make bigger hen house if needed but think it will sleep six-ten.
We planned for six orginally but only got 3 from our supplier. We also need more eggs as i sometimes have to supplement with shop bought and they are not as good!
Michelle

Roughlee Handled · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2009, 19:12 »

Sorry for the first question.

What do you want from a chicken?

Eggs... lots of eggs over a short period i.e. 300 eggs plus a year for 2 years and then stop production at 4 years old or a few eggs a week but still producing eggs at 6 years old?
Hybrid chickens = for lots of eggs over a short period.
Pure bred chickens = less eggs over a longer period.

Or Meat

A chicken can live till 9 years of age plus, unless you are growing it for meat.

darcyhen · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2009, 19:32 »

sorry for double posting. I thought i'd use the extra cockerals for meat. So they are for eggs and they don't have to produce loads. Would rather they had a long productive life so purebred would be better.
Are there any negatives about going for a second broody?

Roughlee Handled · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2009, 20:29 »

OK I have

Cream Legbar = Blue eggs ( I personelly think they are greenish)
Marran= Brown (Darkish)
Scotts Grey= White (Rare breed)
Dorking= White (not so Rare breed)
Salmon Faverolles= pinkish eggs
COPPER BLACK MARAN= Dark Chocolate eggs.

I like colour in my eggs.

Oh I have also gone for chickens that will (some anyway) lay in winter. Some pure breeds will lay through out winter others will not.

Have a look at this website.
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/dual.html

darcyhen · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2009, 21:23 »

thanks i am going to study all the different breeds. Pink eggs sound nice... i like colour too
michelle

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another hen gone broody

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