ScarletinaVixen
Songster
- Mar 3, 2019
- 89
- 256
- 106
As I live in an area rural enough to have unreliable electricity (went out 4 times today, for example), I will let hens hatch eggs because an electric incubator will be a dreadfully risky adventure. Heck, my electric oven is risky. I have lost loaves of bread and batches of cookies to sudden power outages. I imagine my egg loss via electric incubator would be equally high.
That having been established, my plan which I request you correct and modify as needed, is as follows:
Broody silkies in their own coop and run. No rooster.
Layer hens in their own coop and run with Richard, my affectionate love sponge rooster.
Meat hens with a rooster I have not yet ordered in their own coop and run.
3 coops and runs. 1 fertile egg laying, 1 fertile meat, 1 infertile broody gang of silkies.
As I get fertile eggs from desired hens, mark as meat or layer (M/L) with date, place under broody silkie, allow silkie(s) to hatch and nurture clutches, visible to 2 other flocks, until silkie gives them the boot, then incorporate into meat or layer flock as determined.
I will feed silkies and chicks a 20% starter until chicks are raised, give silkies a break before the next clutch (16%), then wait until someone goes broody and repeat.
I have to do this as if electricity is not an option.
Please let me know your thoughts and any modifications you advise before I begin building this summer.
That having been established, my plan which I request you correct and modify as needed, is as follows:
Broody silkies in their own coop and run. No rooster.
Layer hens in their own coop and run with Richard, my affectionate love sponge rooster.
Meat hens with a rooster I have not yet ordered in their own coop and run.
3 coops and runs. 1 fertile egg laying, 1 fertile meat, 1 infertile broody gang of silkies.
As I get fertile eggs from desired hens, mark as meat or layer (M/L) with date, place under broody silkie, allow silkie(s) to hatch and nurture clutches, visible to 2 other flocks, until silkie gives them the boot, then incorporate into meat or layer flock as determined.
I will feed silkies and chicks a 20% starter until chicks are raised, give silkies a break before the next clutch (16%), then wait until someone goes broody and repeat.
I have to do this as if electricity is not an option.
Please let me know your thoughts and any modifications you advise before I begin building this summer.
