Any Kansas people out there?

[HEChicken]

I agree that this would be a fine idea if I wanted the hens to remain broody. But with two incubators full already I need the eggs more than I need broody hens. And when they broody like they are now they are not giving me eggs. Poor girls.

The fastest way to get them laying again is to let them raise chicks (IME). If I wait for them to stop being broody…..that will take all summer with Cochins. But if I let them raise chicks, they stop being broody to be a mama, and when the chicks are a few weeks old, they start laying again.

Since they are cochins, I would say that 10 months is plenty old enough to be good broody hens and mothers so if it were me, I'd give them some eggs to hatch. If I can get them moved to a separate pen, I give them eggs. If I can't - i.e., if they are intent on staying in the crowded nest boxes where the eggs are more vulnerable to getting broken - I hatch the eggs myself in the incubator and give them the chicks after they hatch. At night I move the hen to a broody pen, put the chicks under her, and lock her in so she can't leave until she has bonded to them. Once I'm sure she has changed gears from broody to mama hen, I let her out to show the chicks how to find food and water.

 

[friendshipstar]

The fastest way to get them laying again is to let them raise chicks (IME).  If I wait for them to stop being broody…..that will take all summer with Cochins.  But if I let them raise chicks, they stop being broody to be a mama, and when the chicks are a few weeks old, they start laying again.

Since they are cochins, I would say that 10 months is plenty old enough to be good broody hens and mothers so if it were me, I'd give them some eggs to hatch.  If I can get them moved to a separate pen, I give them eggs.  If I can't - i.e., if they are intent on staying in the crowded nest boxes where the eggs are more vulnerable to getting broken - I hatch the eggs myself in the incubator and give them the chicks after they hatch.  At night I move the hen to a broody pen, put the chicks under her, and lock her in so she can't leave until she has bonded to them.  Once I'm sure she has changed gears from broody to mama hen, I let her out to show the chicks how to find food and water.

Okay. I am going to let them have their way.
I do have a seperate building where I already have a hen on eggs. I suppose it will be okay to put them in the same building so long as everyone has eggs? Up until now I've only used the incubator. So this natural stuff is new to me. Thank you for your help.

 

[HEChicken]

Okay. I am going to let them have their way.

I do have a seperate building where I already have a hen on eggs. I suppose it will be okay to put them in the same building so long as everyone has eggs? Up until now I've only used the incubator. So this natural stuff is new to me. Thank you for your help.

Moving broody hens is not without its challenges. I am able to convince about 20% of them its a good plan. The other 80% believe their chosen spot - the nest box - is the only possible place they can brood. What I typically do is move them at night when they're sleepy, onto a nest of dummy eggs in a broody pen. In the morning, some of them wake up and are fine with the change. The rest panic and spend the next few days pacing and looking for a way out of the broody pen and back to their nest. I've tried waiting them out without success. Earlier this season I had a broody cochin and another broody bantam, and I moved them together to the broody pen. Neither cared for the change but I left them thinking once they got used to it, they'd settle down. A week later I gave in and let them out. For a few days they acted like normal chickens but as of yesterday they are both broody again. In the nest boxes.

That is why I've mostly given up on trying to move them while broody and instead hatch them chicks to raise. Once they're bonded to their chicks, they can be moved quite easily.

 

[friendshipstar]

Moving broody hens is not without its challenges.  I am able to convince about 20% of them its a good plan.  The other 80% believe their chosen spot - the nest box - is the only possible place they can brood.  What I typically do is move them at night when they're sleepy, onto a nest of dummy eggs in a broody pen.  In the morning, some of them wake up and are fine with the change. The rest panic and spend the next few days pacing and looking for a way out of the broody pen and back to their nest.  I've tried waiting them out without success.  Earlier this season I had a broody cochin and another broody bantam, and I moved them together to the broody pen.  Neither cared for the change but I left them thinking once they got used to it, they'd settle down.  A week later I gave in and let them out.  For a few days they acted like normal chickens but as of yesterday they are both broody again.  In the nest boxes.  

That is why I've mostly given up on trying to move them while broody and instead hatch them chicks to raise.  Once they're bonded to their chicks, they can be moved quite easily.

So I should put them on golf balls until I have chicks to put under them.

 

[HEChicken]

So I should put them on golf balls until I have chicks to put under them.

I don't. Mine brood in the nest boxes and every night I lift them up and take the eggs. Yes, I know, I'm a meanie. They don't care - they'll sit on air until it hatches

Besides, they are only sitting on air overnight when they'd be sleeping no matter where they were and first thing next morning hens start piling in to lay a fresh batch of eggs. That's the main reason I don't just mark eggs and let them sit on them in the nests. With all the coming and going and fighting over eggs, inevitably the eggs I want hatched end up getting broken.

 

[friendshipstar]

I don't.  Mine brood in the nest boxes and every night I lift them up and take the eggs.  Yes, I know, I'm a meanie.  They don't care - they'll sit on air until it hatches    Besides, they are only sitting on air overnight when they'd be sleeping no matter where they were and first thing next morning hens start piling in to lay a fresh batch of eggs.  That's the main reason I don't just mark eggs and let them sit on them in the nests.  With all the coming and going and fighting over eggs, inevitably the eggs I want hatched end up getting broken.

I wouldn't fuss so much about them being broody if they were laying. I have plenty of nest boxes for them to hang out in. But they aren't laying. I'm about to start charging them rent.
On a more positive note, I just candled a few eggs from the two incubators and things are looking great.
Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have a few Cochins, a bunch of Cream Legbars, and a ton of black copper Marans.

 

[hannihooni]

I am from Topeka, just started my first flock this Spring-we are really enjoying it too! It's amazing how much out kids love it!!

 

[BannerB]

Hi there!

I'm from Kansas!!..I just joined BYC today. Like you, I didn't see anyone from Ks in the first couple of pages. I found you by searching Kansas.

We purchased our first set of chickens this March. We purchased 8 in hopes of one day soon having our own eggs with no intention of eating them. This is all new to me so I just joined BYC looking for an answer to a hen I have that I'm sure has bad eye sight. Her aim for treats is off by about an inch and ouch! that hurts. I quickly converted to feeding her treats out of a condiment cup...it seems to have all the answers. I found some threads with the same issue so I felt comforted. I or we live just outside of Derby, KS with 8 chicks...14 weeks old. I think we have 2 roosters and 6 hens? Time will tell if we are wrong.

Just wanted to say hi.
Barb