Ok, so, I have the BEST broody hen that EVER walked the face of the planet!
I found her in the hollow an apple tree, not too far from the coop, but far enough that I never noticed her. She had 19 eggs and my best guess was that she was a week and a half into he setting period. Well, I already have too many roosters from all the other broodies this year (6-7 total), so I formulated a plan to make her adopt some hatchery pullets. I really only wanted 12, but Mt Healthy's minimum is 15, so that is what I ordered. Well they came and I opened the box at the PO to make sure they were OK, and they were, but I thought that it looked like too many, but I equated it to them being cramped. Well, I got them home and fed them, then I decided to count them. 22. I almost croaked. How in the world is this hen supposed to take care of 22 hatchery chicks and 7 of her own? I figured that I didn't have anything to lose, because I certainly was not ready to take care of them myself, so I put them in the hollow with her.
I was shocked! She readily accepted them (a bit confused about where they came from at first), and soon, ALL 29 of them were under her warm body!! 22 Golden Comets, 6 GLW X BO, and 1 BR X BO!! I am so very proud of her! I have pics, and I will put them up soon! It is quite the sight!
I found her in the hollow an apple tree, not too far from the coop, but far enough that I never noticed her. She had 19 eggs and my best guess was that she was a week and a half into he setting period. Well, I already have too many roosters from all the other broodies this year (6-7 total), so I formulated a plan to make her adopt some hatchery pullets. I really only wanted 12, but Mt Healthy's minimum is 15, so that is what I ordered. Well they came and I opened the box at the PO to make sure they were OK, and they were, but I thought that it looked like too many, but I equated it to them being cramped. Well, I got them home and fed them, then I decided to count them. 22. I almost croaked. How in the world is this hen supposed to take care of 22 hatchery chicks and 7 of her own? I figured that I didn't have anything to lose, because I certainly was not ready to take care of them myself, so I put them in the hollow with her.
I was shocked! She readily accepted them (a bit confused about where they came from at first), and soon, ALL 29 of them were under her warm body!! 22 Golden Comets, 6 GLW X BO, and 1 BR X BO!! I am so very proud of her! I have pics, and I will put them up soon! It is quite the sight!
