Almost afraid to ask this question

[JaciesCoop]

I'm afraid I'm going to sound totally dumb but here goes.
When I was growing up with chickens I do not remember ever having incubators or such. I just remember collecting eggs in a little basket and I remember Mama hens sitting on eggs and then there would be chicks running all over the place.
Does anyone still do it the old fashioned way? Or does everyone incubate their eggs and such?
I certainly don't question anyone's methods. I'm just wondering. Our neighbors on both sides. (these are all acreages) have all free ranging chickens except at night because we have lots of predators) and every once in awhile you will see Mama's with babies. So I guess the do it the old fashioned way. My 4 pullets and one rooster are cooped. Not free ranging. Can I let them sit, lay and hatch or do I need to plan on getting the equipment to incubate and such?
I hope this doesn't sound totally stupid but I would like some youngsters in the spring.
Thanks for any responses in advance.
Jacie

 

[bantymum]

No dont be afraid to ask anything!!
I definately do it the natural way with hens and a rooster.
I dont have time to raise chicks in a brooder at present.
The only preparation i did was to make little Nursery cages for the hens when they go broody(want to sit on eggs)
then i left them to it!
I have some chicks hatching out as i speak!
I have shallow water containers so the chickies dont drown and lots of starter food in little bowls too. also have very fine mesh around the bottom of the cages so the littlies dont get through.
good luck

 

[unionwirewoman]

I just had a chick hatch that my turken had been sitting on . I actually had to ask advice on this website on how to take care of a newborne chick . The hen took one look at him while he was hatching and fled . I guess she wasn't ready for all the responsibility . My chick is now 4 days old and doing great . I just wish the other egg would have hatched so it would have a buddy.

 

[mdbucks]

the only problem with old fashion way is that it is up to the hen when she decides to go broody, or if she decides to go broody. With bator, you can choose regardless ofthe hens when to set and by backcounting you can have chicks on a day you determine. Lots of breeds have all but got all broodiness breed out of them so you may not get a sitting hen to hatch babies if you want them.

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
Do you feel like the government, you are now responsible for that chick for the rest of its life.

 

[JaciesCoop]

Oh thank you so much for the replies. I feel much better now because I was beginning to think I had the wrong ideas about all this.
We have a nice coop with nesting boxes that was built with the barn and it's divided inside. My rooster Henry has a separate run and door because my girls are still a little young to be romanced! LOL! And I still need to get a cochin roo for them unless I want to have leghorn/cochins. I mainly just want the eggs but would like some little ones running around.
They are all so spoiled that I'd like to have some more to spoil!
So anyway, it will be easy to separate him from the babies.
Thanks again.
Jacie

 

[JaciesCoop]

Quote:
Well that certainly explains going the incubation way. Makes sense. I guess I'll just take my chances and hope for a broody. But I certainly appreciate the imput and reasoning. Now I'm understanding more and learning more from this group everyday. You guys and gals are terrific!!!

 

[bigzio]

Yep, mom and the babys is the only real natural way to raise a free range flock. The chicks are superior at finding food when mom has taught them how to find all the goodies that are good for them. Live food is what they prefer if given the chance.

bigzio

 

[unionwirewoman]

Quote:
Do you feel like the government, you are now responsible for that chick for the rest of its life.

yeah...my first thoughts were "I'm so glad my fiance' decided to do this just before winter." Can anyone tell me why men always think something's a great idea up until the point they have to actually do something ?

 

[2mnypets]

I don't even own a bator, so the only way that eggs will hatch at my house is the old fashion way. I don't think I would have the time that it takes to hatch eggs in a bator. That may change in time, but atm I don't forsee it.