Broody Hen vs artificial incubation

[chooks4life]

I am going to research that micro flora. The food waste is interesting but I don't see how that can be such a big deal when so much more food is consumed by ranging.

Happy hunting. Wish I had a few good articles to link you to but it's info I've found offline.

I think the food waste issue only relates to permanently caged birds, which was the industry's big beef about it.

The inherited and acquired intestinal fauna and flora prevent or resist many diseases and help digest food more efficiently, so you may find related info if you research the scientific details on why mammal infants don't live on cooked milk, or require probiotics etc added. Also saliva transmission of gastrointestinal fauna/flora etc.

Ok, this is gross, but did you know they (medical experts in the relevant field) do feces transplants? Like, for a human who can't digest food correctly because they're lacking the correct intestinal fauna/flora. They literally take poop from a healthy human and put it into the sick one. This colonizes (ha, a pun) the sick human's insufficient bowels with the necessary microorganisms to digest food correctly. Obviously NOT a popular treatment. But can be lifesaving. Also humans exchange/share their intestinal fauna and flora when they kiss or touch their mouth after touching another's hand, etc, all much the same as chickens, dogs, cats, etc providing their young with a decent population of digestive organisms.

Best wishes.

 

[LukensFarms]

Happy hunting. Wish I had a few good articles to link you to but it's info I've found offline.

I think the food waste issue only relates to permanently caged birds, which was the industry's big beef about it.

The inherited and acquired intestinal fauna and flora prevent or resist many diseases and help digest food more efficiently, so you may find related info if you research the scientific details on why mammal infants don't live on cooked milk, or require probiotics etc added. Also saliva transmission of gastrointestinal fauna/flora etc.

Ok, this is gross, but did you know they (medical experts in the relevant field) do feces transplants? Like, for a human who can't digest food correctly because they're lacking the correct intestinal fauna/flora. They literally take poop from a healthy human and put it into the sick one. This colonizes (ha, a pun) the sick human's insufficient bowels with the necessary microorganisms to digest food correctly. Obviously NOT a popular treatment. But can be lifesaving. Also humans exchange/share their intestinal fauna and flora when they kiss or touch their mouth after touching another's hand, etc, all much the same as chickens, dogs, cats, etc providing their young with a decent population of digestive organisms.

Best wishes.

This is wonderful. I am having a ball trying to find more info on this. Thanks

 

[LukensFarms]

Well we have had five hens hatch chicks so far. A couple of the mothers abandoned the chicks but the other hens took them on. We are not separating them from the rest of the flock. Instead I have can area only they go into. When the hen takes them for a journey there is no problem. We are not having attrition so far. It's been over a week.

 

[chooks4life]

Awesome, great to see an update. Your hens are surprisingly social, mine tend to be a bit standoffish with any other broody hen, though some co-mother happily.

In my experience permanently separating family groups causes loss of instinct and social cohesion and leads to a great number of the violent issues people have with poultry, so for tolerance and safety I keep all mine together. I hope you have the great trouble-free experience I've had.

 

[LukensFarms]

We are having a ball. Our egg production is dramatically diminishing with broody hens. However I'm hoping in the end a higher quality chicken will bring more. Although we are still artificially hatching a few eggs. I really like how broody brahmas are. Nobody likes their white eggs, so I'm crossing them to get green and brown egg laying chicks.

 

[ywages]

This is my 4th year hatching chicks, I collect the eggs then when they hatch I go to my broody hens and put them in my nursery with chicks. I have not had any problems with them not taking care of them, I never wanted to mess with a brooder box.

 

[chooks4life]

I like my mixed genetics hens with their unpredictable egg colors. Had one who looked like a silver dorking crossed with silkie, beautiful hen, outlaid any high production hen I've ever had despite being a mongrel for the last five generations on both parent's sides; was also a great mother and made beautiful rose pink eggs.

The random egg colors help sell eggs, if you get a spectrum of different color egg layers and mix up the colors in the cartons it tends to sell well. As long as they're fresh and healthy, people will come from far and wide. Unless you've got a lot of competition. But it should do well, all the best wishes with that. It sure is fun.

 

[LukensFarms]

This is my 4th year hatching chicks, I collect the eggs then when they hatch I go to my broody hens and put them in my nursery with chicks. I have not had any problems with them not taking care of them, I never wanted to mess with a brooder box.

I do this as well, but from time to time with new hens especially I find they may pick on or kill a chick or two. They always do best when they hatch them theirselves. I really think they can smell the scent of a chicken they don't like and they will kill that chick.

 

[LukensFarms]

I like my mixed genetics hens with their unpredictable egg colors. Had one who looked like a silver dorking crossed with silkie, beautiful hen, outlaid any high production hen I've ever had despite being a mongrel for the last five generations on both parent's sides; was also a great mother and made beautiful rose pink eggs.

The random egg colors help sell eggs, if you get a spectrum of different color egg layers and mix up the colors in the cartons it tends to sell well. As long as they're fresh and healthy, people will come from far and wide. Unless you've got a lot of competition. But it should do well, all the best wishes with that. It sure is fun.

The bummer for us is we are 30 miles from the large cities. People won't come this far. All of our eggs are incubated one way or another. However people looking for chicks or laying hens come and get them from us. I like having color varieties as a lot of backyard chicken owners like the fun and beauty as much as the eggs.

 

[chooks4life]

Yeah, I'm into mongrels all the way; there are beautiful purebreds but nothing I've seen compares to the sheer spectrum of variation of color and pattern you can get on a mongrel. Keeps it interesting, and one thing a fair few farmers recommend is getting something you like the looks of, because you'll develop a sharper eye for things that are wrong when you like what you're looking at in the first place, and it also helps when you're spending hundreds and hundreds of hours tending them as you work to make a profit.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that mongrels can even outdo purebreds on meat and egg production and feed efficiency --- all the books I'd read always emphasized that mongrels were an utter and foolish waste of time, resources and money, and a genetic blight on the species. My opinion's been reversed on that, now I almost view purebreds as pointless... But each to their own.
I reckon I'd possibly get a bit less keen, looking at same-colored chicks hatching for generation after generation after generation... Seeing a yard and paddock completely filled with carbon copies... Not my thing. No good cow is a bad color, they used to say.
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Have you considered finding maybe a health food shop or similar who would like to take some orders? Lots of people do it that way around here. It might take a bit of getting accredited though but in some places it's very easy and simple.