Natural breeding thread

[wrathsfarm]

I obviously don't have any advice but just a random thought: it's so interesting to me that a broody chicken will spend weeks on top of a nest... Only to kill the chicks that hatch. It seems counter productive. Why waste all that energy and nearly starve yourself keeping the eggs warm, and then kill your offspring? Does that happen with wild fowl or is it a product of domestication?

I'm no expert here, and probably shouldn't answer but here goes....
Just like with everything in nature including humans. There's no limitations to what a species is capable of doing to their offspring according to their mindset.

Some reasoning I've read that hens can be perfect sitters but once the chicks appear the hens are confused at this, viewing them as intruders or not theirs. Almost like trying to stuff day olds under a non broody hen.

In most cases these will be seen as intruders and killed. There are of course exceptions and rare cases I haven't experienced yet.

 

[TOMTE]

So it differs case-by-case but is the safest bet to incubate and/or raise chicks in a brooder, and then introduce to the flock?

Are there any indications as to whether a hen will be a good setter/mother or do you just find out as it happens?

Again, not planning on doing anything any time soon. My girls aren't even a year old yet. Just wanna prepare myself for the future.

 

[Shadrach]

Does anyone have experience with a broody killing their first born and how you handled it?

Yup. I've had a couple of baby killers. Had to kill the chicks the hen hadn't managed to kill outright. Felt like killing the hen but didn't. Odd thing was the killers were great at the sitting bit. Got off the nests, ate drank and bathed every day without encouragement. Something went tilt when the chicks arrived.It's not just a chicken thing. Humans have killed their babies as have other species.
I just didn't let the baby killers sit and hatch again.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm about half way through what is turning out to be a very long article on this very subject. Might as well do something to warrent my educators badge given trying to answer most of the day to day questions sends me into fits of depression.

 

[TOMTE]

I'm about half way through what is turning out to be a very long article on this very subject. Might as well do something to warrent my educators badge given trying to answer most of the day to day questions sends be into fits of depression.

I love your articles. Always helpful you do a great job here.

 

[NanaK]

I've always prefered to use my broodies but I do have an incubator and have used it as well. My hens have a better success rate than I.

I had 2 separate broodys that killed their first born.

My hen Dixie killed her first born. She was just over a year old. I had only given her 4 eggs because she is a small CLB.

I was outside and heard a loud squawk and then silence. Ran to the coop and she was just sitting on the eggs. Then I saw the dead chick pushed to the back of the nest. I picked it up and the back of the head was open. I assumed she killed it.

I really wanted her to be a good broody. I left the other 3 eggs and watched her closely. She hatched 1, there was 1 infertile an 1 early quitter. She raised the 1 chick and was a perfect mother. She has raised many chicks since. She is an old gal now and just a lap baby.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking but I wondered was something wrong with the chick. It could have been she was confused?? I don't know.

Another time she was broody, she pushed the same egg out of the nest 3 days in a row. I tucked it back under her the first 2 days. Third day I candled it and saw a hair line crack. It was a dark Marans egg so difficult to see inside. I pulled that egg.
I think she knew that egg was not ok.

Sometimes I think the hens just know when somethings not right.

 

[fluffycrow]

So it differs case-by-case but is the safest bet to incubate and/or raise chicks in a brooder, and then introduce to the flock?

I can’t answer the questions below, as I do not think I have chick killer here, but I can somewhat answer your first question. Does using an artificial method prove to be the safest option? Eh, maybe, it depends . It’s definitely a more controlled environment.

(Un)Fortunately, that goes both ways; incubator and brooder raised chicks will not have to deal with a bad mum, aggressive group mates, older juveniles, and predators.

At the same time, it’s my experience that they do not learn crucial social skills (nor can they understand complex social cues) at a young age, which leaves them at quite a disadvantage during their “teenage” phase. Similarly, they are quite predator and environment unaware. Things that mum has taught her day old (or less) chicks, take weeks for my brooder chicks to conquer. In a coop setting, these differences are not that visible, but the difference between the broody and brooder raised chicks here, where most groups free range, is astonishing.

It’s mostly a matter of assessing one’s preferences and goals. As I move towards well structured and self sustaining groups, in a free range setting, natural brooding is the obvious choice

 

[wrathsfarm]

I've always prefered to use my broodies but I do have an incubator and have used it as well. My hens have a better success rate than I.

Yes, here too as you know. I'll take a good broody over Bator any day.

My hen Dixie killed her first born. She was just over a year old. I had only given her 4 eggs because she is a small CLB.

I was outside and heard a loud squawk and then silence. Ran to the coop and she was just sitting on the eggs. Then I saw the dead chick pushed to the back of the nest. I picked it up and the back of the head was open. I assumed she killed it.

I really wanted her to be a good broody. I left the other 3 eggs and watched her closely. She hatched 1, there was 1 infertile an 1 early quitter. She raised the 1 chick and was a perfect mother. She has raised many chicks since. She is an old gal now and just a lap baby.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking but I wondered was something wrong with the chick. It could have been she was confused?? I don't know.

If both Angel or Black go broody for me again, I'll let them but keep a watchful eye on hatch day and we'll see how they do. Fingers crossed.

Another time she was broody, she pushed the same egg out of the nest 3 days in a row. I tucked it back under her the first 2 days. Third day I candled it and saw a hair line crack. It was a dark Marans egg so difficult to see inside. I pulled that egg.
I think she knew that egg was not ok.

Sometimes I think the hens just know when somethings not right.

That right there.... they know more than we do and it's our human nature to intervene in nature's set course.

 

[Shadrach]

I love your articles. Always helpful you do a great job here.

Thank you.

 

[wrathsfarm]

My favorite part about natural brooding is comparing apples to oranges. Hands off, mom teaches them everything, it's instant integration and a whole lot less work and just a sight to be a part of.

One downside is if your in it for the cuddles, most broody raised are more skittish depending on the broody and how 'friendly or docile' she is.