Questions about Broodiness

[gryeyes]

I know "not having enough room" is a perfectly valid reason to worry about chicks, but I just personally think it's cruel to "break" a broody. I just do. Poor thing just wants to hatch some eggs and be a momma. <*sigh*>

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Chicks can be sold, older hens that aren't quite fitting in can be re-homed and replaced with a homegrown chick, etc. Even just one or two chicks will make a broody happy.

 

[kimmypie]

What if you have a breed that is frequently broody like an Orpington? I couldn't raise chicks every single time, plus aren't you supposed to separate a broody and her eggs? I don't think I'd have enough space... I kind of agree that it seems mean which was why I was wondering what would happen if you just did nothing.

 

[kano]

It's necessary to have a wire cage (rabbit tipe). And with wire floor. Ligth, fresh air, food and water. Soon or late she will go back to "normality".

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
To break them you would need a wire care or such, to cool their broody jets so to speak.

My broodies raise their chicks in the coop with the rest of the flock. I use dog crates to seperate them for the short periods of time - few days after she starts to set and again for a few days after the chicks hatch. Otherwise, the chicks are growing up under the adult birds feet.

I wouldn't count your chicks before they've hatched though. I have 12 three year old brahmas, another supposedly broody breed, and not one broody out of the bunch. I also have a silkie that will be a year old in another week or two, silkies being the ultimate broody breed. She's not interested in what the books have to say about her potential broodiness. She's just doing her own thing and that doesn't include hatching chicks.