Is it really terrible to allow Roopecca's chicks?

[Cryss]

I only have one (accidental) rooster, Roopecca. Last season I had my first pullet go broody. It broke my heart to break that broody but A. She wasn't yet a hen and I was concerned she wouldn't be a good mother yet. B. I knew I didn't have enough room to let Miss Eggsmerelda raise babies. And C. Mr. Roopecca has pendulous crop issues. I never let him be without his bra since he was young. (Do they outgrow it? The pendulous crop, not the bra). Anyway I had resolved myself to never let Roopecca become a daddy because offspring might have to wear bras. Now, I do understand not extending a line with problems but it isn't my intention to sell my birds. I wondered how terrible it would be to let a broody raise a few of his offspring , maybe get a couple more egg layers at best. Maybe have some pendulous crop chicken dinners at worst. I know this means I have to resign myself to finally doing the deed. So, thoughts? Suggestions? Scoldings? I'm very tempted to let a broody have her way come springtime. Because Roopecca is a Lavender Orpington I believe all offspring would be black, from Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Barred Rock, or partridge colored Easter Egger mothers.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If you have a broody come spring let her hatch some chicks in your spare coop. Eat the cockerels and keep the pullets for eggs.
A broody hen with chicks is one of the most amazing things to see.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As long as you are doing it for your own use I don't see the harm, especially if you are willing to butcher any that have problems. You will already need to butcher extra roosters.

 

[Mrs. K]

Or you could just buy some day old chicks and slip them under the broody hen. That way you get new chicks, the broody hen gets to be a mom (cutest thing ever!) and the problem is not passed on.

Or once, (this is a true story) I did not know anyone else that had chickens around here when I got my first broody, didn't have a rooster, saw an article in the paper about a lady that had chickens, but when I called her, she had pulled her rooster out, but she gave me some names... Yes I called them, and said, "You see, I am a crazy chicken lady too, and I heard that you might have some fertilized eggs that you would sell me. " She laughed and gave me the eggs, and nearly all of them hatched.

So there are ways to keep the rooster out of it, and he, the hens in the flock, no one will know except you.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

As long as you are doing it for your own use I don't see the harm, especially if you are willing to butcher any that have problems. You will already need to butcher extra roosters.

Ditto Dos^^^....and do you really have room for more birds?
You've spent a good bit of stressful time dealing with some bullying/crowding issues,
do you really want to go back there?

 

[Cryss]

Ditto Dos^^^....and do you really have room for more birds?
You've spent a good bit of stressful time dealing with some bullying/crowding issues,
do you really want to go back there?

No worries. I have hopeful plans for a large coop this spring. I won't be doing any allowance of broodiness until that's in place. That's a lesson learned.