Broody Hen Thread!

[rustymurphy]

I agree mini bantams are the best I got some as well I remember when I was growing up we had both big and small chickens the little bantam rooster thought he could rule the roost and would pick fights with the big rock rooster the big boy just put his foot on the little ones back and hold down for a couple seconds let him up and the little one would try again since they weren't really fighting it was funny to watch kind of like a 2yr old jumping up and down telling his dad he could beat him up

 

[16 paws]

I agree mini bantams are the best I got some as well I remember when I was growing up we had both big and small chickens the little bantam rooster thought he could rule the roost and would pick fights with the big rock rooster the big boy just put his foot on the little ones back and hold down for a couple seconds let him up and the little one would try again since they weren't really fighting it was funny to watch kind of like a 2yr old jumping up and down telling his dad he could beat him up

Yes having a combo of big and littles running together is interesting to watch. You never know what your going to see with the pecking order and keep in mind it can change even after a couple of years. My Brabanter roo was head honcho for the longest time and just recently I have noticed that my silkie roo is chasing him around. Dont know whats up with that but I figured I will just let them work it out. Never a dull moment in the coop!

 

[16 paws]

There is no best box. I give a wide variety of nest sites-cereal bowls, salad bowls, flower pots (upright or on the side) wooden boxes with a top, cardboard boxes, containers with no top, milk crates, Anything that provide security and privacy. There is no set size. Some like large and others like a more cramped nest. By providing a wide range of sizes and styles all my hens (about 12) have their own nest and rarely share it with another hen..I once saw a serama brooding in a yard umbrella. I have found nests in cracks, crevices, behind cages, in cupboards. Cat carriers and litter boxes make good nest as do dog carriers. Every serama hen I have broods and raises chicks. At the time I have three with chicks, three brooding eggs, three have started a new nest after weaning their chicks, and the others are on break.

I recommend variety; anything large enough to hold a serama hen, Some like to nest high up and others on the floor.

At this time I'm using pine needles for bedding in the nest and the coop; dried pine needles.

Thanks for all the info. I will try a variety of items and see what they like.
Sounds like you have a lot going on, how to you keep from having too many? Do you sell them?
Marie

 

[nchls school]

Quote: My serama are unique in that my whole flock has an extremely high broody instinct. While brood size is small, the brood frequently.

 

[microchick]

16paws and rustymurphy. You run both your standard sized chicken and your bantams together? How does that work out? I notice that for the most part my big birds and little birds keep to their own group but I'm wanting to add to my 4 bantams this spring. So far the only friction is coming for a couple of hens that the OEGB cockerels are trying to mount. That in itself is worth the price of admission, especially when the hen sends the little cockerel running for his life.

The roosters seem to be ignoring the bantam cockerels but not the girls. I worry about one of the big lugs hurting one of the bantam pullets.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Definitely do tell I have a mini coop yard that my littles are in during the day at night I have a huge bird cage I put them into to keep them safe. As I have White Midget Turkeys and they run the pecking order and Im afraid they would kill one of my littles pecking them.

 

[nchls school]

Definitely do tell I have a mini coop yard that my littles are in during the day at night I have a huge bird cage I put them into to keep them safe. As I have White Midget Turkeys and they run the pecking order and Im afraid they would kill one of my littles pecking them.

Many years ago I had turkeys and wanted to have them again, but the large size... Midget turkeys? I didn't know there was such a thing. How midget? Do you raise them to sell? Sell eggs? Can you post a picture? I like small. We have serama...world's smallest breed of chicken, mini dogs, a tiny red squirrel and planning on getting pigmey goats in the spring. Midget turkeys...sounds most interesting. Time to go online and check this out.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Many years ago I had turkeys and wanted to have them again, but the large size... Midget turkeys? I didn't know there was such a thing. How midget? Do you raise them to sell? Sell eggs? Can you post a picture? I like small. We have serama...world's smallest breed of chicken, mini dogs, a tiny red squirrel and planning on getting pigmey goats in the spring. Midget turkeys...sounds most interesting. Time to go online and check this out.

Yes they grow to be about 8-15lbs they are known as a Heritage turkey as they are perfect for the dinner table or to raise for their eggs. I have two Toms and Two Hens and currently a dozen of their eggs in my incubator. Depending on the number of pouts that hatch I may be selling some. Beside being small and perfect to fit in a normal mix flock they also have the best personality they are so friendly and cuddly we had planned to butcher one of the Toms for Xmas dinner but neither my hubby or I could do it they are just the sweetest thing and their eggs are prized more the duck eggs as they are rare but OMG if your a baker or just like making bread or nooodles for your family to want their eggs. Plus they are a super White body with Red and Blue heads.

 

[microchick]

And they get along with chickens?

I love turkeys but keep shelving the thought of getting a pair simply because of the horror stories I have read about chickens getting attacked and killed or injured by turkeys.

 

[16 paws]

16paws and rustymurphy. You run both your standard sized chicken and your bantams together? How does that work out? I notice that for the most part my big birds and little birds keep to their own group but I'm wanting to add to my 4 bantams this spring. So far the only friction is coming for a couple of hens that the OEGB cockerels are trying to mount. That in itself is worth the price of admission, especially when the hen sends the little cockerel running for his life.

The roosters seem to be ignoring the bantam cockerels but not the girls. I worry about one of the big lugs hurting one of the bantam pullets.

Yes, I keep my bantams with my lf. Except for my Seramas and Chicken Little. Chicken Little is totally blind so all the big chickens spook her. So she is in with 2 Serama hens. They are smaller than her and gentle. My Serama roos seem to want to fight my other roos so I keep them separate with their Serama wives. In my main coop I have a 3 roos that all get along well. A Brabanter, a Silkie and a bantam Cochin. My big roo Jake doesnt bother the little bantam girls, he just mates with his size hens. The other smaller bantam boys keep the other girls fertile. Quite peaceful except for the predators trying to get them all the time