I know most people will be doing last minute holiday things. Here I sit wondering about chickens, lol.
I have a couple of questions........
If I order hatching eggs in the spring how many can I split between two hens? If I get two dozen can one hen sit on 12 eggs or should I try and see if I could order only 1.5 dozen.....which would be nine eggs each. I am just thinking it may be difficult to have three broodys at the same time. Or is it best to have three?
The second question .....if I have two broodys on eggs can they be near each other? For instance in the same coop or broody hutch? Or do they need separate places? I was thinking since everything went so well with mine and Olivia's first try that I would have no questions next time.....what was I thinking.
I am doing last minute holiday things but was also working out on my broody hutch today (yikes for 3 hours! setting up a new tarp system)...so as I grab a quick coffee and 5 minute break...I'll try to answer a couple of your questions.
How many eggs depends on the hens and the egg sizes, flock dynamics, and your weather at the time.
Banties, like a Silkie, can typically sit 6 large fowl eggs if the hen spreads well and it is warmer weather...4 or 5 if they don't spread as well and cold weather. Large fowl hens, like your Olivia (EE if I remember??) can sit 10 to 12, or more, in warmer weather, 8 or 9 in cooler. I've learned to set a few less in winter as the cooler weather does impact those that are shifted to the fringes.There are stories from posters though of a hen going missing and coming back with 16 or 18 or 20! But I wouldn't attempt that many.
Also remember to check the eggs for attached air shells and only set those that look really good in egg shape, integrity and air cell...that can help eliminate those that may not do well. I purchase more than I plan to set so I have the ability to toss those that don't look good This isn't so important with local eggs, but it is crucial with shipped eggs.
As to brooding together...totally depends on the hens. Some do well; some do not do well at all. They seem to do better if they are sisters or really close flock friends. Not so if they are on different poles of the pecking order. I have had okay luck with my (now deceased) Banty Silkie on one end of my hutch and another mother hen, large fowl, on the other. Worked well with some hens, not so with others. Often when the chicks hatched the large fowl hens would chase and harass the banty and her chicks, which is why I have a dividing board for my hutch (long rabbit hutch type with 2 nest boxes opposite ends) so I could subdivide and isolate the hutch, especially if the ages of the chicks were substantially different. They did okay in the little run, but when locked up at night the banty and younger chicks seemed to get bothered. BUT my banty was brooding so much she sort of dropped out of being a real member of the flock, and the large fowl did not respect the only Silkie among them...so that made a big difference.. I guess keep that in mind too, how well integrated the hens are to each other.
I have recently purchased a veteran Silkie and 2 bantam Cochins which are in the broody hutch run now as a permanent home. I plan to use them as my brooding queens who always stay in residence in the royal hutch. Since they are their own flock, I am hopeful that they will brood well together...bantam Cochins are a breed known for co-brooding well, and the Silkie has a history of co-brooding well with Cochin bantams...Anyway that's the plan...if that doesn't work...then I have the divider boards to go back to in a pinch. I'm not really sure where I'll put my seasonal large fowl broodies or if I'll use them if these banties meet the need, as they will no doubt cause disharmony in the broody hutch with the banties.
All to say...it depends...have a plan A, B and C.
Hope that makes sense...gotta run...Best Christmas wishes,
Lady of McCamley
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[/COLOR] My brooding set up...double-ended hutch with enclosed run. Hutch locks up tight at night for predators. Run is chicken wire sides and completely covered in hawk netting. I can also extend a tarp if our NW weather is being especially rainy so that mums and babies have a half run out of the rain....today is balmy and beautiful
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