Raising friendly chicks...

[debilorrah]

Make sure the hay is crushed up so they don;t choke on a big piece of it too. I learned that one the hard way. The chick didn't die but it got pasty butt and when I removed it along came a 3 inch thing of hay. Bigger than her!!!

 

[Polish Chickens]

Quote:
I'm thinking of getting at least 3 Buff Orps since I'll be needing a broody Hen for hatching the fertile eggs of my Polish Hens when they start laying

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I'm thinking of getting at least 3 Buff Orps since I'll be needing a broody Hen for hatching the fertile eggs of my Polish Hens when they start laying

Um, BO's rarely go broody. I have 5 and not one broody yet....

 

[Polish Chickens]

Quote:
I'm thinking of getting at least 3 Buff Orps since I'll be needing a broody Hen for hatching the fertile eggs of my Polish Hens when they start laying

Um, BO's rarely go broody. I have 5 and not one broody yet....

Then what Hen is best for going broody?

 

[speckledhen]

The hatchery BOs are hit and miss in the broody dept. You'd be more likely to get a Buff Orp broody from a breeder. I have three, two hatchery girls and one breeder girl. One hatchery girl and the breeder girl have both been broody. The breed is known for it, but hatcheries mainly breed for production, not broodiness. I even had a Blue Orp go broody this year.

Silkies and Cochins are likely candidates.

 

[debilorrah]

I picked the wrong breeds for hatching chicks I can tell ya that, so our next purchase is an incubator!!!! We have RIR, BO's, WLH mostly and a couple BR and other misc breeds and only my turken has been broody. Twice. No one else is even interested.

Silkies go broody alot!

 

[Polish Chickens]

Do Crested Polish Hens go broody?

 

[Lobzi]

Quote:
Um, BO's rarely go broody. I have 5 and not one broody yet....

Then what Hen is best for going broody?

Wild hens. I got one from a horse stable. She hatched three peepers seven weeks ago and is already sitting on three more eggs. I cant keep her FROM going broody