Broods with Many Chicks Make Hen Work Harder

[centrarchid]

I have a hens with a range of brood sizes in terms of how many chicks they have. Lowest is 3 while highest is 22. The more chicks, especially during the first week or so, more time spent foraging with less for hiding under moms wings. The hen with largest brood is goaded by cheeping chicks almost continuously so she does not rest. Crops also not filling. That settle down when I bring chick feed. Brood of 12 chicks forages for longer bouts than so the smaller broods. Broods of six not obviously different from three.

 

[Mace Gill]

Great observational info! I always kinda figured more than a dozen in a brood is hard for a hen to handle.

 

[centrarchid]

The two broods above progressing nicely. Larger brood of 22 pared down by one to 21. Hens with respective broods being penned for bulk of day in rabbit cages. Chicks of the elder brood can no longer fit through openings of cage sides. Younger brood almost there. When birds penned the cages are about 2' apart. While chicks could get out they did some drifting between pens without issue. Hens would fight when released until we worked out a system for release where they start off at least 20' apart. Then they stay apart just fine. Older brood has transitioned to gleaning form of foraging which is much easier on hen which means the hen can start recovering her weight. Younger brood is starting to do same.