dirt floor broody box?

[hensonly]

HI,

I'm hoping to use my hens to hatch chicks next spring. I read in a book recently that when setting up a broody nest box, the nest should be built directly on the ground. Straw or shavings, yes, but on the dirt, no floor in the nest box. The reason stated was that the damp ground allows the correct humidity for the eggs. I never heard of doing this - it sort of makes sense but seems that it might be a bit cold... my hens make quite a deep nest in the shavings in their nest boxes - if they did the same when setting and hatching, I would think the eggs would be right on the dirt, or with only a thin layer of shavings under them. I would think that the ground might be too cold for either eggs or chicks...

Anyone?

Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sounds like one of those myths to me. I've had many broodies hatch chicks in nests off the ground, some in nest boxes and some in a 10' high hay loft. Some have hatched them on the ground. I really do not think it makes any real difference.

 

[ScissorChick]

Quote:
Totally agreed.

Also, I like to have CLEAN eggs, For Incubating, or for eating. It's not good to incubate

extremely dirty eggs, and it's not good to wash them. I would think they would get

dirty on the ground.