Ribh's D'Coopage

[Shadrach]

Actually, Ribh do your broody hens take a few weeks off between sitting? What I really want to know is how frequently hens go on the brood, or is each hen different? Ivy and Mary have brooded twice this summer, Peggy once.

Now here's a strange thing.
The marans hens were not broody self sufficient. Even Ruffles as a second generation hen needed taking off her nest for the fist few days. She got the hang of it quite quickly but the original Marans were all likely to lose condition.
The original bantams which were not pure breeds (?) got off the nests every day and some would spend easily an hour, weather dependent, on eating bathing and letting the rest of their tribe know they were broody.
The mixes, Marans and Bantams are also broody self sufficient.
The next generations all get off their nests and maintain body condition to the point that some put on weight while sitting.

 

[RoyalChick]

@Ribh was skittish enough with 6 week olds, chicks might be asking too much!

But look how well she did - I have every confidence.

 

[drstratton]

@Ribh was skittish enough with 6 week olds, chicks might be asking too much!

I thought about that too, but that's where the mama hen comes in...they are much better at it than we are!

 

[MaryJanet]

I know Sydney's hatch made me very happy last year!
View attachment 2497660

Me too! Sydney's hatch has given me confidence to try a hen hatch one day.

 

[MaryJanet]

Now here's a strange thing.
The marans hens were not broody self sufficient. Even Ruffles as a second generation hen needed taking off her nest for the fist few days. She got the hang of it quite quickly but the original Marans were all likely to lose condition.
The original bantams which were not pure breeds (?) got off the nests every day and some would spend easily an hour, weather dependent, on eating bathing and letting the rest of their tribe know they were broody.
The mixes, Marans and Bantams are also broody self sufficient.
The next generations all get off their nests and maintain body condition to the point that some put on weight while sitting.

Wow! Not one of the three broodies here gained weight! Even though Mary and Peggy are diligent eaters while brooding, they lost weight. I was afraid Ivy would fade away without encouragement.

 

[drstratton]

I know Sydney's hatch made me very happy last year!
View attachment 2497660

Aww...look at those sweet babies with their happy mama!

 

[drstratton]

Me too! Sydney's hatch has given me confidence to try a hen hatch one day.

I will be doing that next year, I'm going to breed my new Cream Legbars with one of my Marans roosters.
I might be giving my new chicks to one of my broody girls if she's still broody when I get them.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

The Pretties continue to think they are wild birds...

At least now they roosting right above their coop. It's so easy to pick them each off the branch and place them in the coop.❤

 

[MaryJanet]

The Pretties continue to think they are wild birds...
View attachment 2498127

At least now they roosting right above their coop. It's so easy to pick them each off the branch and place them in the coop.❤

Pretty is right word. They're so compelling!

 

[BY Bob]

Me too! Sydney's hatch has given me confidence to try a hen hatch one day.

Sydney says yours can do it too.