Can I do this safely?

[Cryss]

New chicken owner here...in about a week, lol. While awaiting my very first chickens, 4 of them about 7 weeks old, I have been contemplating future additions to the flock. I will not have a rooster. I know that adding new chickens, they nerd to be quarantined, then introduced slowly. My question is, if next spring/summer one of my chooks goes broody can I safely purchase fertile eggs from the same breeder my chooks came from and give them to my broody gal to raise? I cannot raise fertile eggs myself. Do eggs need to be quarantined? Thanks for your answers.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Nope, eggs don't need to be quarintined, They are fine fresh from the egg!

 

[Cryss]

Nope, eggs don't need to be quarintined, They are fine fresh from the egg!

So is this a good practice? Does anyone else increase their flock this way?

 

[Cryss]

Nope, eggs don't need to be quarintined, They are fine fresh from the egg!

So is this a good practice? Does anyone else increase their flock this way?

 

[Teila]

Hello again Cryss [I just said G'Day on your introduction]

Yep, if you have a hen that goes broody, giving her some fertile eggs to raise is not only a safe way to increase your flock numbers but also a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I do not think I will ever tire of watching a mumma hen raise her little ones, you can see how adoring and doting she is

You will have to make some decisions on whether to keep her separate from the flock and reintroduce her and the chicks or whether to let her raise them in the flock etc but those are all things that BYC members will be able to help you with.

I sent you a link to the Topic of the Week articles on my welcome post and there are some discussions on Broody Hens and Hatching Chicks etc available there.

It can be a bit daunting the first time, even with a broody hen who knows way more about what she is doing than we do but we will have your back

PS. If you have not already noticed, chicken parents can also be enablers Do it!

 

[Cryss]

Oh dear... my post seems to have hiccuped and posted itself sevrral times!

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

So is this a good practice? Does anyone else increase their flock this way?

Yes, Many many peeps increase there flock number by hatching–Hen or Incubator–They do hatch.

 

[Cryss]

Hello again Cryss [I just said G'Day on your introduction]

Yep, if you have a hen that goes broody, giving her some fertile eggs to raise is not only a safe way to increase your flock numbers but also a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I do not think I will ever tire of watching a mumma hen raise her little ones, you can see how adoring and doting she is

You will have to make some decisions on whether to keep her separate from the flock and reintroduce her and the chicks or whether to let her raise them in the flock etc but those are all things that BYC members will be able to help you with.

I sent you a link to the Topic of the Week articles on my welcome post and there are some discussions on Broody Hens and Hatching Chicks etc available there.

It can be a bit daunting the first time, even with a broody hen who knows way more about what she is doing than we do but we will have your back

PS. If you have not already noticed, chicken parents can also be enablers Do it!

Thank you so much. Now I'm even more excited! I'm dreaming of purchasing another chain link dog pen, opening my current one to connect the 2, making the run expand 3X from 10X10 to 10X30, and hopefully having 4 hens hatching. Yeah, I know I might get a rooster or 4, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Thank you fpr all the links. I'll be investigating tbem soon. I've been reading so much online and watching YouTube. Hubby says I'm obsessed. He's probably got something there.

 

[Teila]

Thank you so much. Now I'm even more excited! I'm dreaming of purchasing another chain link dog pen, opening my current one to connect the 2, making the run expand 3X from 10X10 to 10X30, and hopefully having 4 hens hatching. Yeah, I know I might get a rooster or 4, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Thank you fpr all the links. I'll be investigating tbem soon. I've been reading so much online and watching YouTube. Hubby says I'm obsessed. He's probably got something there.

Tee hee .. he will get used to it My hubby calls BYC 'chooky-chat' .. "On chooky chat again I see"

He loves our girls as much as I do though.

I am not able to keep roosters but I have been lucky via advertising them; however, unless you actually get to visit them, you are not really sure of what their fate may be. Unwanted roosters is one of the reasons I only give in to my broodys when I know I am able to keep some of her little ones.

 

[Pork Pie]

These links may be helpful:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/4...ody-hen-hatch-a-long-and-informational-thread
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks

The one thing I would say is just make sure that you have the space for additional birds. I've always let my broodies hatch and raise chicks in the coop with the main flock - other members keep momma separate. There are very few right or wrong ways to do things imo, so go with what you feel happy doing.