How long does a hen need to be broody before she will accept chicks slipped under her at night?
As of today, Dr. Girlfriend has been stubbornly sitting on a nest ~15 - 17 days. The other girls were pushing her out of her preferred nest so I moved her to a large dog crate in the hen house and she has been keeping 4 golf balls very warm and happy.
The local feed store gets their shipment of new chicks on Friday or Saturday. So, if I go tomorrow morning to get a good choice of the breeds I want, it will be ~16 - 18 days. If I wait until next week, it will be ~23 - 25 days.
I would prefer to do this earlier than later. We are going on a trip in 4 weeks and I think the older the chicks, the less of a hassle for the house sitter.
This is my first time NOT raising them myself in the living room.
Thanks for any input !!!
As of today, Dr. Girlfriend has been stubbornly sitting on a nest ~15 - 17 days. The other girls were pushing her out of her preferred nest so I moved her to a large dog crate in the hen house and she has been keeping 4 golf balls very warm and happy.
The local feed store gets their shipment of new chicks on Friday or Saturday. So, if I go tomorrow morning to get a good choice of the breeds I want, it will be ~16 - 18 days. If I wait until next week, it will be ~23 - 25 days.
I would prefer to do this earlier than later. We are going on a trip in 4 weeks and I think the older the chicks, the less of a hassle for the house sitter.
This is my first time NOT raising them myself in the living room.
Thanks for any input !!!
