Buff chicken eggs and hatching

[ladyh]

Is there an age when Buff chickens become broody and do I have to wait until the eggs become larger before they are viable to hatch? . I have 7 BO's, 2 roo BO's,3 mixed roo's, one one black australorpe hen. They all get along. I wanted to start leaving the eggs for a hen to get broody but not sure when to do this as the eggs are still small. They started laying at 5 months+3 weeks old beginning of march. They are now about 6+ months. I would like the BO's to hatch their babies as I chose this breed due to being told they are great brooders.

 

[DobieLover]

Is there an age when Buff chickens become broody and do I have to wait until the eggs become larger before they are viable to hatch? . I have 7 BO's, 2 roo BO's,3 mixed roo's, one one black australorpe hen. They all get along. I wanted to start leaving the eggs for a hen to get broody but not sure when to do this as the eggs are still small. They started laying at 5 months+3 weeks old beginning of march. They are now about 6+ months. I would like the BO's to hatch their babies as I chose this breed due to being told they are great brooders.

You have too many cockerels. That number of boys in a flock that size will become an issue.

It's always best to allow pullets to mature and the egg size to increase. Smaller eggs mean smaller chicks mean weaker chicks. Give them the best chance by allowing the pullets to mature a bit.

Leaving eggs won't make a bird go broody. Orpingtons are known for going broody but that doesn't mean they will. If you want to encourage a broody, set up a ground nest in a cozy private spot in the coop and put a few fake eggs in it. Continue to collect all fresh eggs. If you get a broody pullet that sits tight on the ground nest for at least a week, you can put fresh, marked eggs under her and let her set. Continue to collect any fresh eggs that are laid in her nest when she goes on broody breaks.

In the meantime, strongly consider rehoming all but your best cockerel.
I've kept 2 LF males in a flock of 26 birds and several hens were bare backed and eventually the boys fought and injured each other. It is not fun to have to treat bloody boys, get them on the mend and return them to the flock just to watch them do it again.

 

[ladyh]

Thank you for your concern, but my cockerels get along fine...They have never fought..or gotten bloody even over the years. I have done this for many years but just decided to let hen broody no incubate. I have a lot of space and they don't cause an issue. I have done a trick that teaches them I'm boss and they present no problems. Only two are BO cockerels the rest are older and I watch them and there are no issues. I love my cockerels.

I also know that there is a dfference between cockerels growing up together and ones that have not grown up together. That's why mine get along even when mounting their hens. They each have their own preference on which hen is theres. The mixed roos don't mount my BO's.