Broody Advice

[BarredBuff]

Howdy BYC'ers!

I have had a Broody hen on 18 eggs for the past 18 days. Tommorow will be day 19.

I have a few questions, could you please help me?

This hen is on lone until after she hatches and raises the chicks, I know she is healthy she came from my cousins flock. The birds came from me when they were doodles. I have her in my second chicken coop by herself, and I'd like to let her hatch them in there and let her raise for a week in there then turn her and the babies out with my other chickens. So she can teach em to scrath and stuff like that. Mine are free ranging hens with a rooster. Would this work ya think? Im gonna try it atleast but Id like some input, Thanks!

 

[Lollipop]

Sure it will work. Should work very well. However, I would still be cautious of the newbie that was not quarenteened. I`ve done it and so have many others, but the truth is, we have no control over stock that is not in our own yard and even our own birds, though healthy appearing in all respects, could carry something to another flock. Rare, but it happens. Probably too late this time, but think about it. Good luck..........Pop

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
Thanks! She will have been here three weeks monday. So I should be fine!

 

[Mrs. K]

I had mine out scratching in a day or two, and their mamma fed them all sorts of stuff. It was fun. Keep an eye on the whole thing to see how it is going to work. Probably she will keep them away from the main flock, and the roo will kind of stand between the two flocks.

The thing that I had different, was my broody hen was one of the flock, and she stayed right there in the hen house with them. She was a bit cranky during broody, and no one gave her any problem. So when she came out with chicks, they didn't bother her, and if they got too close to those chicks, they regretted it.

The part I would worry a bit about, is that your hen is not of your flock, and depending on your flock temperament, it might be a wreck. I think roos are suppose to help in this situation, but do not have experience in a situation like this.

MrsK

 

[BarredBuff]

Mrs. K :

I had mine out scratching in a day or two, and their mamma fed them all sorts of stuff. It was fun. Keep an eye on the whole thing to see how it is going to work. Probably she will keep them away from the main flock, and the roo will kind of stand between the two flocks.

The thing that I had different, was my broody hen was one of the flock, and she stayed right there in the hen house with them. She was a bit cranky during broody, and no one gave her any problem. So when she came out with chicks, they didn't bother her, and if they got too close to those chicks, they regretted it.

The part I would worry a bit about, is that your hen is not of your flock, and depending on your flock temperament, it might be a wreck. I think roos are suppose to help in this situation, but do not have experience in a situation like this.

MrsK

Well my roo is well behaved NEVER had any troubles out of him.

And big broody is double the others size. So its possible she will whip tail................

 

[Lollipop]

Mrs. K :

I had mine out scratching in a day or two, and their mamma fed them all sorts of stuff. It was fun. Keep an eye on the whole thing to see how it is going to work. Probably she will keep them away from the main flock, and the roo will kind of stand between the two flocks.

The thing that I had different, was my broody hen was one of the flock, and she stayed right there in the hen house with them. She was a bit cranky during broody, and no one gave her any problem. So when she came out with chicks, they didn't bother her, and if they got too close to those chicks, they regretted it.

The part I would worry a bit about, is that your hen is not of your flock, and depending on your flock temperament, it might be a wreck. I think roos are suppose to help in this situation, but do not have experience in a situation like this.

MrsK

Good point Mrs K..........Pop​