hens on their own eggs

[ams4776]

I was given 3 hens and a rooster. I'm thinking of having the hens lay on their own eggs (and raise the chicks myself) So how well has this worked for anyone else without removing the broody hen? Also I would only have 3 eggs a day to place in the nest (was thinking of having 10 total. These are my first chickens and they have been doing great the last month.

 

[shuizar209]

I think it would stress the hen out too much if you removed her chicks. In my opinion its a little harsh too. Unless there are other issues like she sick or unable to care for them for some reason or other I would just leave the chickies with their momma. Its so much easier to have a hen brood them.

ETA:

 

[ams4776]

I wont have enough room for them as they grow (only being raised for meat) Im just trying to figure the best idea for having the hen sit on their own eggs so i dont have to purchase an incubator

 

[schellie69]

I would let the hen sit on the eggs to hatch and let her raise the chicks much easier and less mess. You could make a larger pen for the hens and the chicks. Once the chicks are a week old you could even let her free range with them.

 

[shuizar209]

Im sticking to my guns. I would let her raise them(if there isnt enough room for a few chicks under a broody then I wouldthink your cramped already and need a bigger space anyways.) Just a thought. With what ever you decide good luck. sending some good vibes your way.

 

[ams4776]

I would have enough room for a few but im wanting to try 10. No way I can have that many more growing till they are old enough to butcher. But thanks for the good vibes.

 

[Maggizzle35]

I have to agree to let the hen raise them, the chicks nest right under her so they don't take up any more room than she does and a hen keeps chicks at the perfect temp for warmth. It's great when a hen adopts chicks because she takes care of them and saves electricity because you don't have to keep a light on them and worry that they aren't warm enough. I have been lucky enough to have a few hens adopt the chicks after they have hatched and it's been wonderful.

check out this pic. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_-lkzXjtBmHA/TUs1k050qgI/AAAAAAAAGO8/d_sEKuYWKdQ/s512/IMG_0434.JPG

 

[Oregon Blues]

Hens aren't broody all the time, and they don't pay any attention to what is convenient for you. They are broody when they are in the mood, not when you need chicks. Some breeds of chickens will not go broody. They have been bred not to.

So, if you want all the eggs hatched, you will need an incubator. If one of your hens goes broody, you can put eggs under her. If she hatches the chicks, you might as well let her raise them. She'll be ready to let them go soon enough. You can not take the chicks and immediately put eggs under her. You will have to wait until she is in the mood to go broody again.

With 3 hens, you should be able to get 10 eggs underneath a setting hen.

 

[ams4776]

My rooster will be in the coop. Hes a mean sob when you try to handle him (we get along fine long as i dont get him) i dont wanna see him hurt the chicks.

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
Just trying to figure out what's going here. You have 3 hens and a rooster, that is all?

You just got them. You don't know if any of the hens are broody or not?

You are planning on 3 eggs a day?


You can't make a hen go broody and hens don't automatically go broody. Once they go broody and start setting on eggs the egg production stops.

You most likely won't get 3 eggs everyday even if they aren't broody. They will skip a day here and there.

And looking at another post. You imply that there is a space problem. If you don't have room for a hen with chicks you probably don't have room to raise them for meat. If you are thinking about an incubator you need more room, not for the incubator but for your addiction to raising chickens.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.


Forgot--


I'm all for broody hens and letting the hen raise the chicks. In my experience the hatch and survival rate is better. The mother hen will usually take good care of the chicks. I've had roosters in the pen when the chicks hatched. No problems, the rooster even does fatherly things. If you introduce chicks to an already established flocks, especially with a rooster there will be problems.