Bobby has been eating and scratching like crazy and just starting to get color back in her pale comb. I'll definitely give her as much time as she needs. She's a happy girl. But boy, I hope she doesn't go broody again till next year, it's so tough on her and me.
Beth G. :
Good Morning, That is a tough one to answer for me. I only let the mothers raise babies until the are a month old by themselves. I do this b/c a Broody puts so much into hatching, she loses alot of weight. Then she has to watch her babies and teach them how to eat, drink, and forage. If you add into that other adults that she has to be wary of with her babies I think it puts additional stress on a broody that has been through enough already and I've actually seen them die from it. So, on the other hand I've seen many people allow their broodies to hatch and raise babies right within the flock. They've had great success. So, I think that it is really personal preference and you always have to take into account the broody that is raising the babies. I hope this helps. I don't mean to confuse or say one is better than the other. All I can say is I think its best to leave the decision up to you b/c no one know their birds better than their owner
Best Wishes, Beth
Quote:
I've never hatched before, so I'm just playing this by ear so far, but at what point do I want to integrate them back into the "big" coop with the others? So far we have let the big girls out around the tractor a few times, and they don't seem too interested in the babies. There is a learning curve to all this chicken stuff.
Good Morning, That is a tough one to answer for me. I only let the mothers raise babies until the are a month old by themselves. I do this b/c a Broody puts so much into hatching, she loses alot of weight. Then she has to watch her babies and teach them how to eat, drink, and forage. If you add into that other adults that she has to be wary of with her babies I think it puts additional stress on a broody that has been through enough already and I've actually seen them die from it. So, on the other hand I've seen many people allow their broodies to hatch and raise babies right within the flock. They've had great success. So, I think that it is really personal preference and you always have to take into account the broody that is raising the babies. I hope this helps. I don't mean to confuse or say one is better than the other. All I can say is I think its best to leave the decision up to you b/c no one know their birds better than their owner
Quote:
I've never hatched before, so I'm just playing this by ear so far, but at what point do I want to integrate them back into the "big" coop with the others? So far we have let the big girls out around the tractor a few times, and they don't seem too interested in the babies. There is a learning curve to all this chicken stuff.
