So I have my first broody hen after having chickens for over a year. She is a Golden Phoenix and suddenly went broody on Saturday. I'm very excited as I'd like to have some babies from my Roos. Here are my questions:
1. How long will she be broody for? Until the eggs hatch underneath her?
2. How many eggs can she have underneath her? She is a smaller chicken but not a bantam.
3. I'd like to get some purebred eggs under her. Can I separate my roo and hen of the same breed into my other coop for a couple days and collect those eggs to put under her? Since my hens free range there is no way of knowing if the babies will be pure bred or not. Or should I just wait and see what I get?
4. Should I move her out of my main coop? Or will that just upset her and break the brooding?
5. After the chicks hatch do I need to move them all to a separate coop then?
6. Is it safe to free range the hen with her chicks?
Thank for your answers! I'm sure I'll have some more questions right after I post this.
1. How long will she be broody for? Until the eggs hatch underneath her?
2. How many eggs can she have underneath her? She is a smaller chicken but not a bantam.
3. I'd like to get some purebred eggs under her. Can I separate my roo and hen of the same breed into my other coop for a couple days and collect those eggs to put under her? Since my hens free range there is no way of knowing if the babies will be pure bred or not. Or should I just wait and see what I get?
4. Should I move her out of my main coop? Or will that just upset her and break the brooding?
5. After the chicks hatch do I need to move them all to a separate coop then?
6. Is it safe to free range the hen with her chicks?
Thank for your answers! I'm sure I'll have some more questions right after I post this.