Broody-off challenge

[wrathsfarm]

I have 2 flocks...each with their own rooster and 9 hens in each flock. I've had 9 broodys out of the 18 girls so far this year, 8 of which are in my Black Copper Marans (BCM) flock and 1 in my mixed flock. 3 have hatched chicks already, and 6 hens sitting on eggs at the moment.

For test mating, it's dreamy...

So how many broodys have you had this year?

What are you hatching and why? Just for fun? Prepping for the zombie apocalypse? Breeding to standard or sell?

Pics of your broody mommas and babies always welcome.

 

[wrathsfarm]

It started out all unicorns and rainbows this spring, fired up the incubator, set 22 eggs and hatched 8. Then came Joannie and Momma going broody. So I set eggs under each.

Joannie hatched out 5.

Next was Momma that hatched her 5 on the same day as Joannie.

Then Raven went broody so I shipped in BBS Silver Marans but only 2 hatched.

So now the new additions add up to 20 babies. I lost one of the pullets from the Bator hatch so at 19 total now.

And 6 more broodys sitting on eggs at the moment. 5 in the Marans coop...

And Roady one of our Black Australorps in the left box of the mixed coop....

 

[Debbie292d]

I have 2 flocks...each with their own rooster and 9 hens in each flock. I've had 9 broodys out of the 18 girls so far this year, 8 of which are in my Black Copper Marans (BCM) flock and 1 in my mixed flock. 3 have hatched chicks already, and 6 hens sitting on eggs at the moment.

For test mating, it's dreamy...

So how many broodys have you had this year?

What are you hatching and why? Just for fun? Prepping for the zombie apocalypse? Breeding to standard or sell?

Pics of your broody mommas and babies always welcome.

Your photos are gorgeous! It sounds like you're doing wonderful figuring out best way of breeding/hatching too.

I gave up letting broodies do it as three times they left their chicks at around a month old, wandering the yard free-ranging on their own while the mom went back to the coop to be broody. She no longer protected the chicks, so we had to build a temp coop for them. We both were fed up with this and figured if we're going to have to raise these chicks for them at four weeks on, then we may as well buy an incubator, and that's what started this method several years ago.

Now instead of waiting until they grow up, I just sell them at day olds.

It broke my heart the one time I took a hen's babies from her to sell. I left her with one just so she'd have a chick, at least. But I can't keep doing that either. That's another thing I didn't like about letting them hatch eggs.

Now, we hatch their eggs and sell the chicks. We have a niche with the area wanting silkie chicks so this works well.

To replenish the genes of the flock, and to bring in new varieties, I've purchased hatching eggs from reputable breeders throughout the U.S. Those I hatch (poor hatch rate on shipped eggs this year!) then grow out the chicks to around 4 months old and decide what to keep. Usually, it's a rooster and a couple of hens. I sell the rest.

Once you are happy with the way things are going, you just do it that way, and you've found yours. Good luck!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Your photos are gorgeous! It sounds like you're doing wonderful figuring out best way of breeding/hatching too.

I gave up letting broodies do it as three times they left their chicks at around a month old, wandering the yard free-ranging on their own while the mom went back to the coop to be broody. She no longer protected the chicks, so we had to build a temp coop for them. We both were fed up with this and figured if we're going to have to raise these chicks for them at four weeks on, then we may as well buy an incubator, and that's what started this method several years ago.

Now instead of waiting until they grow up, I just sell them at day olds.

It broke my heart the one time I took a hen's babies from her to sell. I left her with one just so she'd have a chick, at least. But I can't keep doing that either. That's another thing I didn't like about letting them hatch eggs.

Now, we hatch their eggs and sell the chicks. We have a niche with the area wanting silkie chicks so this works well.

To replenish the genes of the flock, and to bring in new varieties, I've purchased hatching eggs from reputable breeders throughout the U.S. Those I hatch (poor hatch rate on shipped eggs this year!) then grow out the chicks to around 4 months old and decide what to keep. Usually, it's a rooster and a couple of hens. I sell the rest.

Once you are happy with the way things are going, you just do it that way, and you've found yours. Good luck!

I haven't found it yet, mainly winging it...
This many broodys is new to me as I've only had 1 per year for the past 2 years.

Raven did quit early around 4 weeks so those 2 littles have been a challenge to let out to free range with the others. Usually about an hour before dark after the chores are done so I can watch them with help from the 4 crowers.
But as I said it's been a learning curve and good for test matings, until I run out of eggs....

I completely agree with your program....tho. Much easier than juggling broodys in the heat.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Ive had 19 broody so far this year. The 8 broody early in the season just hatched out chicks to sell
3 of them just got done raiseing my Silkied Duccles, Brown Red Mottled Duccles and some mixed bantams. The plan with the next 8 as long as some stay broody is to let them set on Lavender, Prcelain, fawn and silver duck OEGB eggs. BRM Duccles eggs, silkied Duccles and whatever else I decide to hatch.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Your photos are gorgeous! It sounds like you're doing wonderful figuring out best way of breeding/hatching too.

I gave up letting broodies do it as three times they left their chicks at around a month old, wandering the yard free-ranging on their own while the mom went back to the coop to be broody. She no longer protected the chicks, so we had to build a temp coop for them. We both were fed up with this and figured if we're going to have to raise these chicks for them at four weeks on, then we may as well buy an incubator, and that's what started this method several years ago.

Now instead of waiting until they grow up, I just sell them at day olds.

It broke my heart the one time I took a hen's babies from her to sell. I left her with one just so she'd have a chick, at least. But I can't keep doing that either. That's another thing I didn't like about letting them hatch eggs.

Now, we hatch their eggs and sell the chicks. We have a niche with the area wanting silkie chicks so this works well.

To replenish the genes of the flock, and to bring in new varieties, I've purchased hatching eggs from reputable breeders throughout the U.S. Those I hatch (poor hatch rate on shipped eggs this year!) then grow out the chicks to around 4 months old and decide what to keep. Usually, it's a rooster and a couple of hens. I sell the rest.

Once you are happy with the way things are going, you just do it that way, and you've found yours. Good luck!

I just saw this and I'm actually curious.. at what age do the mothers usually let the babies be their own independent chicken? I'm on my first broody. Her chicks are 4 weeks old now and she's still fiercely protective and won't leave their side. She will attack whoever and whatever causes 1 unhappy peep out of their mouths. When will it be time to expect her to let up a little bit?

 

[Debbie292d]

I just saw this and I'm actually curious.. at what age do the mothers usually let the babies be their own independent chicken? I'm on my first broody. Her chicks are 4 weeks old now and she's still fiercely protective and won't leave their side. She will attack whoever and whatever causes 1 unhappy peep out of their mouths. When will it be time to expect her to let up a little bit?

My understanding is it's usually 6 to 8 weeks before the mother starts pushing away from her chicks. Mine did it at 4 weeks, and that's too young for me to leave them alone. Six weeks would be much better as at least they'd be mostly fully feathered by then, so they can fly a little bit (silkies) should need be. If it were 8 weeks, SO much better!

That said, once I had one chick that the mother hen let come climb up in the nest with her at night. Those wound up sharing the same nest for a year.

 

[wrathsfarm]

It varies from hen to hen, but like @Debbie292d states 6-8 is pretty average. My first broody Joannie 2 yrs ago kept hers in tow I'm guessing at least 8 weeks maybe longer. I was following her this year for my notes when she went broody to keep track this time, and she cut them loose 2 weeks ago at 6 weeks.

Momma last year cut hers loose early at 4-5 weeks. This year she still has them at 8 weeks this Wednesday, but I notice she's starting to venture off and not calling them for food.
But I can see Joannie still ventures to them quite often like she's keeping tabs on them, but they are integrated pretty well with Momma's 5, so it's almost like she has 10 and Joannie pops by to visit, and each group sleep in separate spots at night.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Ive had 19 broody so far this year. The 8 broody early in the season just hatched out chicks to sell
3 of them just got done raiseing my Silkied Duccles, Brown Red Mottled Duccles and some mixed bantams. The plan with the next 8 as long as some stay broody is to let them set on Lavender, Prcelain, fawn and silver duck OEGB eggs. BRM Duccles eggs, silkied Duccles and whatever else I decide to hatch.

Wow...that is a lot of broodys.

How many hens do you have?

 

[SweetieChicken234]

It varies from hen to hen, but like @Debbie292d states 6-8 is pretty average. My first broody Joannie 2 yrs ago kept hers in tow I'm guessing at least 8 weeks maybe longer. I was following her this year for my notes when she went broody to keep track this time, and she cut them loose 2 weeks ago at 6 weeks.

Momma last year cut hers loose early at 4-5 weeks. This year she still has them at 8 weeks this Wednesday, but I notice she's starting to venture off and not calling them for food.
But I can see Joannie still ventures to them quite often like she's keeping tabs on them, but they are integrated pretty well with Momma's 5, so it's almost like she has 10 and Joannie pops by to visit, and each group sleep in separate spots at night.

That means likely I have a couple more weeks until I can maybe more easily handle the chicks. I don't enjoy getting bit. Lol she's been a great mom though and she is sticking with these little chicks really well. It's so much easier than me having to raise them but darned if those bites don't hurt! I keep trying to integrate her back into the flock and my rooster keeps trying to mate her. Then she runs. I just want to smack him and tell him to stop. We had racoons and hawk out here today and I need him for protection. Otherwise I would put him in the pen for a bit. I also have my other 6 7-week olds I have to integrate into all this mess. It's been a real pain trying to get the broody and babies and my incubator babies all together.