Future Broody Questions

[WannabeHomsteader]

Not sure if I should put this here or in the "Managing Flock" forum (sorry).

I have 3 bantam pullets, and I have heard that bantam hens go broody often and are good mothers. I am looking to add to my flock someday, but not really in a hurry. I'm thinking maybe I could have them hatch for me in the future. I have limited chick experience, so here are my questions:

1: Can you give fertilized eggs of ANY breed to a broody hen? For instance, if I wanted some RIRs or Wyandottes, could I have my bantams hatch them out and it be okay? I'd love to experiment with different breeds, if that's the case.

2: If chicks are raised by a smaller/bigger mother (as opposed to being raised in a brooder), do I have to worry about integration/bullying? My 2 standard hens try to peck at my pullets (they're separated though), and I kinda think that will always be the case, no matter my integration efforts, due to bantam/standard size difference. Would chicks from standard breeds end up bullying the bantams that raised them?

My bantams are just pullets for now, but I'm gathering info to figure out what my options are in the future. Thanks!

 

[Livia Ammon]

1. Totally! Bantams can raise full size chicks no problem, just not as many as a full size hen could, as their bodies are smaller.

2. Usually, flock integration goes well if the mother is in good standing. As your possible broodies seem not to be in good standing, I would be worried about that if I were you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1: Can you give fertilized eggs of ANY breed to a broody hen? For instance, if I wanted some RIRs or Wyandottes, could I have my bantams hatch them out and it be okay? I'd love to experiment with different breeds, if that's the case.

Yes. A good broody will try to hatch goose, duck, turkey eggs or even door knobs or ping pong balls.

Chickens and eggs come in different sizes. The hen needs to be able to cover all of them. A small bantam may only be able to cover 4 to 6 full sized fowl eggs while a full sized fowl hen may be able to cover two dozen bantam eggs. Sizes are your limitingf factor.

2: If chicks are raised by a smaller/bigger mother (as opposed to being raised in a brooder), do I have to worry about integration/bullying?

Each chicken has its own personality. It is not that unusual for a bantam to dominate a full sized hen. It's the size of the fight in the chicken more than the size of the chicken in the fight. You can have problems with any sized mix or it can go great.

My 2 standard hens try to peck at my pullets

Regardless of size or breed, until pullets reach maturity they are often picked on by mature hens. If your pullets were full sized breeds and your mature hens were bantams I'd expect to see the same thing. Wait until your bantams start to lay and then see how they are received.

I cannot give you any guarantees with living animals as each has its own personality but I think you have a great chance of it working out.

 

[Tex452]

Yes, but there is only a certain amount of eggs you can put under a little hen.
They are excellent mothers.
My son has 4-5 bantams and he hatches different kinds of chicken eggs all the time.

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

Yes, but there is only a certain amount of eggs you can put under a little hen.
They are excellent mothers.
My son has 4-5 bantams and he hatches different kinds of chicken eggs all the time.

That's really cool. I've wondered how hard/complicated the hatching process is when letting a broody hen do it. Hatching looks like a very easy thing to mess up, with a lot of variables. I suppose much of it depends on how "good" the mother hen is at it. I live in a town with city ordinances that limit my flock size, so I wouldn't be able to let them hatch eggs super often. But I think it would be cool to try it if given the opportunity.

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

Yes. A good broody will try to hatch goose, duck, turkey eggs or even door knobs or ping pong balls.

Chickens and eggs come in different sizes. The hen needs to be able to cover all of them. A small bantam may only be able to cover 4 to 6 full sized fowl eggs while a full sized fowl hen may be able to cover two dozen bantam eggs. Sizes are your limitingf factor.


Each chicken has its own personality. It is not that unusual for a bantam to dominate a full sized hen. It's the size of the fight in the chicken more than the size of the chicken in the fight. You can have problems with any sized mix or it can go great.


Regardless of size or breed, until pullets reach maturity they are often picked on by mature hens. If your pullets were full sized breeds and your mature hens were bantams I'd expect to see the same thing. Wait until your bantams start to lay and then see how they are received.

I cannot give you any guarantees with living animals as each has its own personality but I think you have a great chance of it working out.

Thank you for your reply! I'm still hopeful I can integrate my bantams and standards someday, but for now they'll be separated. My pullets are only about 9 weeks old, so we have a long while to do the whole "look-don't-touch" thing.

How do you know a hen will be a "good" broody? Are there any good indicators besides just giving her some fertilized eggs after she gets broody, and seeing if she'll set on them? I have read on here about folks who have a hen go broody but then she fails to commit to the job, or gets mean with the grafted-in chicks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How do you know a hen will be a "good" broody?

You don't until you try it. Each is an individual with their own personality.

My signal that a hen is ready for hatching eggs is that she spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot. To me nothing else matters. It has to be two consecutive nights.

For me the vast majority of first time broodies works great. I've had problems with a hen that had successfully raised a brood earlier but did not work out the second time I gave her eggs. Each time is a separate event. You never know for sure what will happen but you won't find out until you give her a chance.

 

[Emu-mama]

That's really cool. I've wondered how hard/complicated the hatching process is when letting a broody hen do it. Hatching looks like a very easy thing to mess up, with a lot of variables. I suppose much of it depends on how "good" the mother hen is at it. I live in a town with city ordinances that limit my flock size, so I wouldn't be able to let them hatch eggs super often. But I think it would be cool to try it if given the opportunity.

In my experience it's much easier to let the hen do all the work when the eggs are incubating, but in some instances, (if the hen isn't a good broody) then its a little more stressful during the hatching. As long as there are no complications, and no other chickens are disturbing the eggs while they hatch then it should go well.

It really is wonderful to watch one of your girls hatch, and raise little babies.

 

[Tex452]

In my experience it's much easier to let the hen do all the work when the eggs are incubating, but in some instances, (if the hen isn't a good broody) then its a little more stressful during the hatching. As long as there are no complications, and no other chickens are disturbing the eggs while they hatch then it should go well.

It really is wonderful to watch one of your girls hatch, and raise little babies.

It is fun to watch what we call a cluck, raise her babies.
Another problem is predators, it’s best if they are kept in a predator proof pen if possible.
My son did have a skunk tear up a hen and destroy all of the eggs.