Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Pozees]

While we're talking broodies, how long does a new mom generally raise her chicks? How long before she begins to lay again? My broody Cochin is still mothering her 3 chicks, one is 4 weeks old and the other two are 3 weeks. I think that at least 2/3 are cockerels:/ Is it normal for pullet chicks to puff up their chests and chest bump? All three chicks do this, and one even tries to chest bump mama! I dont remember my batch of "spring chickens" exhibiting this behavior, but most of them were pullets... I figure we'll be eating these ones come spring... And I'm being much more selective about my next hatch!

I have only girls and they chest bump, so I don't think I would necessarily take that as an indication of gender

 

[delisha]

I can only answer for Orpingtons. I have all Cornish mutts and English Orpingtons. They are wonderful mothers. They have even hatched out duck eggs for me. I raise Muscovy's. They take 35 days. I had a hen Muscovy who set a nest and hatched out 3 chicks. I sold her three chicks the next day. She went and started a nest a week later. I should have pulled the eggs. I let her set another nest. She was ill by the second week of setting. I pulled her eggs and gave them to the Orpington. I got the hen healthy and it took a long time. She was close to the edge. I will not let that happen again.

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

I didn't realize Orpingtons were so commonly broody.  I may have to rethink what breed to get for brooding.  I guess my next question would be to anyone who has had Orpington, Silkie and Cochin hens - is there one more likely then the others to go broody and to successfully brood chicks?  Or is it more dependent on the way the birds are set up?

I don't have multiple birds if each breed you mention, but I do have one of each. The Cochin went broody at 7months old, successfully hatched 3 chicks, and even though she's my smallest hen, she has been an amazing mother. Fights off that mean old RIR hen every day, I joke that she's honing her ninja skills. I was most nervous about that: her ability to defend her hatch. I did separate her after the first chick hatched, got out of the nest box, and was either murdered or froze to death. I think the latter because there was no damage done to the dead chick. After that, I moved her to a separate pen, and then allowed her to take her chicks outside to free range when the youngest two were 3-4 days old. Since this was an "accident" hatch, I used it to experiment with how well she would brood and then mother in different circumstances. I moved mom and chicks back to the coop, but inside of a wire dog crate so everyone can see each other when the chicks were about 2 weeks old. I don't close the door to the crate at night anymore, but mom still chooses to nest in there with her chicks.

Anyways, no signs of broodiness from my other girls, but they're still young. I'm very very happy with the Cochin though

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

I have only girls and they chest bump, so I don't think I would necessarily take that as an indication of gender

Thanks! I honestly don't remember my girls exhibiting this behavior, although my two cockerels did from a very young age. One of the chicks is walnut combed, so I have no idea about him/her besides behavior; the other two are single combed and one's comb is already larger than the other's, and wattles are evident. :/

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, the hen I thought was going broody wasn't in the coop when I went to lock up for the night. I found her belly up under a bush outside, not a mark on her. Eggbound? I hope so, I don't want to have to worry about some mystery illness. She didn't show any signs of illness. Shame I didn't find her sooner, she was a big gal would've given a good deal of meat, but she was stiff and cold by the time I got her.
Bummer. All around bummer.

So sorry

 

[galanie]

I can only answer for Orpingtons. I have all Cornish mutts and English Orpingtons. They are wonderful mothers. They have even hatched out duck eggs for me. I raise Muscovy's. They take 35 days. I had a hen Muscovy  who set a nest and hatched out 3 chicks. I sold her three chicks the next day. She went and started a nest a week later. I should have pulled the eggs. I let her set another nest. She was ill by the second week of setting. I pulled her eggs and gave them to the Orpington. I got the hen healthy and it took a long time. She was close to the edge. I will not let that happen again.

I have one very determined broody that is also a great mom. After having her set for an extended time because I was waiting for eggs, I got in the habit of blocking the broody off in her own little area on the floor and providing food and drink where she can reach it w/out getting up. It kept this girl going and setting for over two months without being too bad off. Of course if you do this you must without fail get them out once a day to have a good poop and stretch. I once missed a day and if you think a broody normally has a big poop, you should have seen what came out of this one!!! It taught me a real lesson, completely down my legs and on my feet and in a HUGE pile at the coop door

 

[delisha]

I would not let a hen set that long. I would stress about consequences. Right now I am looking for Muscovy chicks to place under my two hens setting so I can get them off the nest. If I can't find any these two are getting locked out. They both set two nests already this year. I do not need to worry all winter over Muscovy chicks. My DH wants to bring them to the hospital coop and start the wood burner. I can't make him understand the consequences of that error. So I am looking for other options. I just might take the eggs and close off the nest boxes if I can't find chicks.

 

[galanie]

I would not let a hen set that long. I would stress about consequences. Right now I am looking for Muscovy chicks to place under my two hens setting so I can get them off the nest. If I can't find any these two are getting locked out. They both set two nests already this year. I do not need to worry all winter over Muscovy chicks. My DH wants to bring them to the hospital coop and start the wood burner. I can't make him understand the consequences of that error. So I am looking for other options. I just might take the eggs and close off the nest boxes if I can't find chicks.

 

I only let her set that long once, because I was waiting for some eggs I especially wanted. They were supposed to arrive at a certain time and for various reasons the shipper delayed 3 weeks past the time originally agreed on. I'll not do that again but just wanted to let you know it can be done by providing food where they can reach it w/out gettiing up. Otherwise they won't touch it. And they don't seem to get enough on that once daily trip out (if they even get up daily - which some don't).

Agree with you on this one though. I'd not want them to set now either.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

I think it conforms to their body more when they are turning and trying to form a nest. I also have shavings and leaves in my nest boxes...I like everything to be as normal as possible and as much like an outside nest they would make. There's even a few twigs in them here and there...

Couldn't have put that any better. I use the pumpkin seeds as well. Sometimes I'll throw some garlic in the mash or even red pepper flakes. I too am satisfied with the acceptable parasite load and don't sweat it. As you cull for hardiness and laying, you often cull the animals that carry most of the parasite loads in a flock by sheer default. One university study states that it's likely that 20% of a flock or herd will carry 75% of the flock or herd's parasite load. The bird I just culled the other day had this in her small intestine.... I wasn't surprised. They have been in the worst possible environment with the worst care and only now are getting back to a healthy regimen. Time and culling will weed out the birds that are prone to heavy worm loads and the rest thrive with a certain amount at all times.

Wow not cool at all. So do you rec. culling a bird that seems to get sick and not kick it, or give them more of a chance, I culled 2 the other day that have been sick off and on for 4-6 mo. They would get better then sick again. when you cull one for scrauny or sick do you eat them or not?

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

I love that! "Don't come home until the porch light's on".....reminds me so much of Mom yelling for us to come inside and us being reluctant to come in. When it gets dark is when the best hide and seek and flashlight tag takes place...not to mention catching lightning bugs, looking for shooting stars, etc. Man, do I miss those days!

Yes hide and seek all night till dad said "ok its time" we knew what that ment.