How crazy would it be to offer broody services?

[nuthatched]

Hi guys,
My three Australorps are constantly taking turns on the broody train, I get one go broody every few weeks. I know it's at least two different Lorps, since one only fusses when I kick her out of the nest boxes and one BITES. Since they go broody so frequently and stick it out until they get fed up with me tossing them into the yard, would it be crazy to let them hatch other peoples eggs?

 

[Texasclucker]

Doesn't sound crazy to me but if they got off the eggs you might would have to refund

 

[Chookchicken]

It sounds like a good idea. My only concerns are if your going to take the chicks away from the hens after they hatch. It’s not good for the chicks or hens to get separated right after she hatch’s a chick, or the chick hatches. My hens get aggressive with everyone (including her flock mates) if we take her chicks away from her even just to take them for a walk around the yard. after that follows the frantically calling for them stage. It’s not very pretty. yours might be different though.
If your planning on letting her raise them until she eventually loses interest, or doesnt feel like raising them after they hatch, then great go ahead.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Not a great idea if you value biosecurity. Most resperitory diseases transfer from hen to egg, so chicks hatched from these flocks are born infected. If you hatch eggs from someones infected flock, your flock will get the disease from the chicks. Hatching eggs for someone also poses the risk of your flock passing diseases to their chicks.

 

[nuthatched]

Doesn't sound crazy to me but if they got off the eggs you might would have to refund

I'm not sure if I'd charge for something like this, but that's a good point.

It sounds like a good idea. My only concerns are if your going to take the chicks away from the hens after they hatch. It’s not good for the chicks or hens to get separated right after she hatch’s a chick, or the chick hatches. My hens get aggressive with everyone (including her flock mates) if we take her chicks away from her even just to take them for a walk around the yard. after that follows the frantically calling for them stage. It’s not very pretty. yours might be different though.
If your planning on letting her raise them until she eventually loses interest, or doesnt feel like raising them after they hatch, then great go ahead.

I was thinking letting momma raise them for 2-3 weeks or until 'weaned'. It's all just a thought at the moment.

Not a great idea if you value biosecurity. Most resperitory diseases transfer from hen to egg, so chicks hatched from these flocks are born infected. If you hatch eggs from someones infected flock, your flock will get the disease from the chicks. Hatching eggs for someone also poses the risk of your flock passing diseases to their chicks.

That's a good point, what sort of illness would be your concern?

 

[FuzzyCritters]

That's a good point, what sort of illness would be your concern?

Mainly MS and MG.