- Mar 16, 2013
- 107
- 1
- 146
i have 19 chickens (3 barred rock hens, 1 austrolorp, 14 RIR hens, 1 RIR roo) the RIRs are separate from the BR and Aussie. a couple weeks ago one of my RIR hens, Jasmine, became broody (she sits on the eggs EVERY day and when i try to get the eggs she sqwaks at me and sometimes tries to peck). i have decided to let her hatch some eggs, but i have 2 question and one sorta problem/question.
my first question is how do i know she is broody enough to hatch the eggs. i have read that some hens may abandon the eggs through the incubation. is there a way to see if she is broody enough? how and how long?
my second question is i have heard people say they test them with golf balls but would i have to separate her from the rest of the flock or see if she does it with the flock (this is in case the golf balls IS the best way to "test" them) i DO have a way to separate her if that is the best option.
now for my problem/question- it is October 2nd and fall started September 21st when december 21st being the first of winter and march 21st is first of spring. i did some calculating and since it takes about 21 days for the eggs to hatch and then they wouldnt usually go fully outside until ~8 weeks ANYWAY, that would put me almost right at the first of winter when they would go in the coop. my chicken coop is right beside my garage and the garage is where we had the 19 chicks until they were old enought to go in the coop,
now 2 question regarding the above:
1)when it says have the hens hatch in a draft free environment, would the garage be ok? (the garage has a separate work shop room and electricity for heat lamp if needed)
2)would it be ok to let Jasmine go ahead and hatch or should i wait? if i wait, will i have to worry about her losing broodiness?
i am sorry if this is a bit confusing
any help/advise would be SO helpfull.
THANKS!!
my first question is how do i know she is broody enough to hatch the eggs. i have read that some hens may abandon the eggs through the incubation. is there a way to see if she is broody enough? how and how long?
my second question is i have heard people say they test them with golf balls but would i have to separate her from the rest of the flock or see if she does it with the flock (this is in case the golf balls IS the best way to "test" them) i DO have a way to separate her if that is the best option.
now for my problem/question- it is October 2nd and fall started September 21st when december 21st being the first of winter and march 21st is first of spring. i did some calculating and since it takes about 21 days for the eggs to hatch and then they wouldnt usually go fully outside until ~8 weeks ANYWAY, that would put me almost right at the first of winter when they would go in the coop. my chicken coop is right beside my garage and the garage is where we had the 19 chicks until they were old enought to go in the coop,
now 2 question regarding the above:
1)when it says have the hens hatch in a draft free environment, would the garage be ok? (the garage has a separate work shop room and electricity for heat lamp if needed)
2)would it be ok to let Jasmine go ahead and hatch or should i wait? if i wait, will i have to worry about her losing broodiness?
i am sorry if this is a bit confusing

THANKS!!