My hens won't incubate their eggs.

[cmom]

I can't really add to what the other posters have said. I have a White Leghorn that is currently broody. Every evening when I go out to collect the eggs I take her out of a nest box and she is usually setting on some eggs. I do have golf balls in my nest boxes to encourage the new layers to lay in the nest boxes. Usually the birds will go broody in the spring but can at any time but usually more so in the spring, early summer. I haven't hatched any chicks in quite a few years with a broody. Now I put what I want to hatch in my incubator. I hatch out a lot of chicks every year. Good luck and have fun...

 

[lighthouse]

I see you have a cat on the kitchen counter.

The hens may not be able to protect the chicks from the cat. They need to be in a safer place or the cat needs to be kept away from them. As much as broodies will protect their chicks, they run about and a quick and stealthy cat will grab one of them. They will probably be ok with the cat when they grow bigger, maybe 4 weeks. You know your cat though.

not one but five.

yes i know what you mean. i won’t leave the house next days and will watch their behaviour. depending on what i see i’ll act one way or the other.

somehow —it’s a mystery to me the HOW— my five serial killers respect my birds (chickens and doves) and they mingle all the time and one of them has even a crash on the female dove (????!!).

let’s see. there will probably be flip flops flying around the house next days. if i see they won’t stop i’ll just “jail” the moms and chicks.

let’s see.

 

[lighthouse]

I can't really add to what the other posters have said. I have a White Leghorn that is currently broody. Every evening when I go out to collect the eggs I take her out of a nest box and she is usually setting on some eggs. I do have golf balls in my nest boxes to encourage the new layers to lay in the nest boxes. Usually the birds will go broody in the spring but can at any time but usually more so in the spring, early summer. I haven't hatched any chicks in quite a few years with a broody. Now I put what I want to hatch in my incubator. I hatch out a lot of chicks every year. Good luck and have fun...

thank you! i WILL!!! feeling like a child wearing new shoes...

and what do you do with the chickens? sell them for meat?

 

[Chicalina]

not one but five.

yes i know what you mean. i won’t leave the house next days and will watch their behaviour. depending on what i see i’ll act one way or the other.

somehow —it’s a mystery to me the HOW— my five serial killers respect my birds (chickens and doves) and they mingle all the time and one of them has even a crash on the female dove (????!!).

let’s see. there will probably be flip flops flying around the house next days. if i see they won’t stop i’ll just “jail” the moms and chicks.

let’s see.

Even some cardboard taped around their little area under the counter to make a pen would be a good idea. Chicks are bold and curious and if there are several, the hen can't keep track of all of them at the same time.

With two hens they might stand a better chance. But also you may need to protect the cats from a fierce attack of broody mama claws too!

 

[lighthouse]

Even some cardboard taped around their little area under the counter to make a pen would be a good idea. Chicks are bold and curious and if there are several, the hen can't keep track of all of them at the same time.

With two hens they might stand a better chance. But also you may need to protect the cats from a fierce attack of broody mama claws too!

YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! easy and cheap and doable!!! what about just the tape from one wall to the next one??? just tape!!! thicker in the low level and less so going higher.

was thinking about it all day long but now YOU GAVE ME THE ANSWER!!!

the hens would never expect an attack from the cats nor the other way round. the temptation are the chicks, a new thing in the house. and everyone would be surprised by that, even the killers.

i’m so ignorant really. both of them kept brooding in a tiny basket because they didn’t want one basket each and yesterday i heard the chick somewhere for the first time and it had fallen from the table to the floor and then i arranged a carton box for them and they were so happy and with so much room then. but the thing is i didn’t expect this. they layered and abandoned the eggs every time and then the silky started brooding one day and the got bored and then two days and left again. and suddenly one day she just didn’t move and next day and next day and then the sumatra joined her and they both were on it 24/7!!! but i thought “they aren’t moving the eggs and nothing will come up and i’ll end up with five rotten eggs.” i was actually thinking how to get rid of stinking eggs rather that how to raise chicks.

whatever, ignorance makes (them) unhappy.

the first one looks exactly like the dad.

WHAT IM GONNA DO IF IT’S A ROOSTER TOO???!!!

THANK YOU.

 

[Chicalina]

Using just tape won't work. Chicks grow fast and jump like frogs. Use cardboard or some other stiff material. Cereal boxes taped together are fine, or anything you can get free from a store.

Why are they not outside in a coop and run? That is really the best place for them all. Mamas will take care of the babies. Cats and other predators can't get at them.

Baby cockerels, well that is the problem we all have! Rehoming or eating or separating into a bachelor coop, or integrating into flock if you have enough space and hens. Deal with that when you get to it.

 

[cmom]

thank you! i WILL!!! feeling like a child wearing new shoes...

and what do you do with the chickens? sell them for meat?

I show them at poultry shows. I grow them all out. I have some coops I use as general population coops and pens and others for breeding. About half of the chicks are males. I grow the males out and keep the best as future breeders and sell the rest. We have a farm swap twice a month. I'm taking the final dozen to sell this coming Saturday. Here are a few of the male Rhode Island Reds.

 

[cmom]

I have used melon boxes as brooders. They work great.

.

 

[lighthouse]

I show them at poultry shows. I grow them all out. I have some coops I use as general population coops and pens and others for breeding. About half of the chicks are males. I grow the males out and keep the best as future breeders and sell the rest. We have a farm swap twice a month. I'm taking the final dozen to sell this coming Saturday. Here are a few of the male Rhode Island Reds.
View attachment 2361037

beautiful boys!

i see. no poultry shows here i fear...

i know if i give money away or sell them they’ll end up cooked.

could i somehow castrate them?

 

[lighthouse]

I have used melon boxes as brooders. They work great.View attachment 2361046.

i guess i could use coconut boxes here...

thanks!