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- #11
Traumatizing a hen is much better that finding the hen dead on the nest because she sat so long without eating or drinking.My mother used to tell me how she had hens that would die on the nest because they were so serious about setting. I have had that happen to me too and it is pretty upsetting. I have had hens who were so dang serious about setting that they would often go for weeks on end...it makes sense that they would loose body weight ... they only get off the nest once a day (if that) to eat and drink. When the summer temps get up over 90 and stay that way, it can not be any good for any critter that doesnt hydrate.Why do people go to such extreme measures, IMO even to the point of traumatizing the hen, to break her broodiness? Is it the loss of egg production for those who sell their eggs, or is there another reason?
As for the egg production, that is a good reason for me. Eggs around here sell for $2.50 to $4.00 per dozen.
I sold many chicks for $4 each... if a hen is setting on nothing, not laying ...that is not going to help pay for the feed. I dont want to hatch chicks outmuch past June anyway because I feel the youngsters are often not strong enough to make it through a bad winter. jmo
On the topic of traumatizing...not so sure it is actually traumatizing because the hens seem to go into a trance...
I also dont like the idea of a nice toasty warm hen setting on my 'fresh' eggs all day (I collect eggs around 4 p.m. each day)