Broody hen with flock or move her?

[Mrs. K]

Centrachid

I agree with you that you will actually get more live viable chicks from a slightly smaller clutch size of say 8, verses 14+.

But if I interpret your reply correctly, are you separating birds, so that they lay in their own nest, creating a clutch after several days, and then by cutting their feed, they go broody on the smaller clutch, rather than waiting for the clutch to get bigger?

hmmmm....... an interesting idea, if I have understood you correctly.

I am not set up that way, but I have been leaving the eggs in the nest, a little longer, hoping that with several eggs in a nest, the longer days, the warmer temps and the God's all lined up, I can flip the switch and get a broody.

Mrs K

 

[centrarchid]

You got me correct. Most hens are singled mated and penned singly even separate from rooster except when they mate every third day. I have so I can walk down row of pens and quickly scan nest which are set to be at nearly eye level and within a foot of my face.

Some are kept free-range as you likely do and I have essentially no control over their nutrition. With those, the older hens in particular are very good about laying only in their own nest.

I use gamehens as broodies most of time which makes process much more consistent. I need to know with absolute confidence ID of both parents.


I have cat making typing a major problem and son playing in toilet. Oh yah!

 

[BexB]

Interesting, thanks! I am new to chickens,so I am reading and learning every day!I free range so I was very concerned about the moms being together and with the rest of the flock, but so far I have been lucky,I let the roo and his remaining ladies out every morning,the moms and moms to be have to stay , they do have a covered run , so they go out when they want,I did move 1 lady to the rabbit hutch(i have no rabbits just a free hutch the neighbor was gona burn)

I moved her because she hatched out only 3 chicks and IDK but maybe she wanted more cause she kept running another off her nest, and the poor thing wouldnt try to take it back she would just scream and run around spooking everyone else till I had coop full of screaming ladies and babies.