Broody hen taking chicks?

[Bookmole353]

Interesting idea - 24 hours of darkness. Hadn't thought about that before.

I am getting new chicks late spring. I'm really hoping my Cochin goes broody around that time. I have zero problem bringing them in to brood them, but I think she'd be a great mama, and it'd be so cute to see her with babies in tow. Plus, it'd be easier to integrate them if she took care of it for me.

I have lots of time to think and decide before the new little ones arrive. 104 days, to be exact, but who's counting? LOL! Can you tell I'm excited?

We already got a lot of ours , including 32 Cornish @ a great price. But we converted an old rabbit hutch into a brooder for the chicks. Separated the Cornish from the littler ones. So I have a side to put “Buffy” and my new ones in. Will put up a run for all chicks to run with the hens in a safe area.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I took it back right away, was just seeing what she would do. I want a more controlled area for them. Especially since the run is a very sloppy mess from all the rain. 4.5 inches in 24 hrs. Going to make changes this summer

Sounds like we could be "neighbors." We've gotten similar amounts... We need it, but ugh...

 

[Aunt Angus]

We already got a lot of ours , including 32 Cornish @ a great price. But we converted an old rabbit hutch into a brooder for the chicks. Separated the Cornish from the littler ones. So I have a side to put “Buffy” and my new ones in. Will put up a run for all chicks to run with the hens in a safe area.

I have an isolation pen I put in under the poop board/roost very recently that will serve nicely. I am planning to give it it's own pop door leading to the back of the coop and to a small run of its own. I'd then have the big run in the front and a small one in the back. But my birds free range most of the day, anyway, so that might be unnecessary.

 

[Bookmole353]

The white one is a 9 month old Brahma. The first picture shows 3 hens in this tiny box not meant for that many. The one in the corner is my cicillian buttercup.

If our run wasn’t so sloppy I would try a couple of other hens who are broody too. Our nests are too far from the ground to let them try it in the coop, plus with the ground so bad they are huddling more in the coop. Hasn’t slowed the eggs production any though. We have 40 hens and get on average 28-35 eggs a day. This is one of my favorite pictures of hens in the nests. Keep in mind these are only 11x11 nests

 

[Bookmole353]

Sounds like we could be "neighbors." We've gotten similar amounts... We need it, but ugh...

Where are you at? I am on the Oregon coast.

 

[Bookmole353]

This is a picture of the hen I am thinking of using for my brooder.

 

[Bookmole353]

I have an isolation pen I put in under the poop board/roost very recently that will serve nicely. I am planning to give it it's own pop door leading to the back of the coop and to a small run of its own. I'd then have the big run in the front and a small one in the back. But my birds free range most of the day, anyway, so that might be unnecessary.

We could use under the brooder for the chick run but there is so little dry ground right now that I hate to take it away from the hens.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Where are you at? I am on the Oregon coast.

California. I checked. Only 3 inches in the past 24. You got me beat!

Oh - I love Oregon's coast! Such a beautiful part of the world!

 

[Aunt Angus]

The white one is a 9 month old Brahma. The first picture shows 3 hens in this tiny box not meant for that many. The one in the corner is my cicillian buttercup.View attachment 1684667 View attachment 1684668 View attachment 1684669 If our run wasn’t so sloppy I would try a couple of other hens who are broody too. Our nests are too far from the ground to let them try it in the coop, plus with the ground so bad they are huddling more in the coop. Hasn’t slowed the eggs production any though. We have 40 hens and get on average 28-35 eggs a day. This is one of my favorite pictures of hens in the nests. Keep in mind these are only 11x11 nests

Silly birdies! They are so cute all squished in together!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

The white one is a 9 month old Brahma. The first picture shows 3 hens in this tiny box not meant for that many. The one in the corner is my cicillian buttercup.View attachment 1684667 View attachment 1684668 View attachment 1684669 If our run wasn’t so sloppy I would try a couple of other hens who are broody too. Our nests are too far from the ground to let them try it in the coop, plus with the ground so bad they are huddling more in the coop. Hasn’t slowed the eggs production any though. We have 40 hens and get on average 28-35 eggs a day. This is one of my favorite pictures of hens in the nests. Keep in mind these are only 11x11 nests

Adorable!!!!!