Selling broody hatched chicks?

[TKGray5711]

Our Roo has started his "roosterly duties" this week lol. We've got 9 BO hens, and one already tried to go broody late fall/early winter. So I'm just waiting for a broody hen. I'm wanting to let her hatch a clutch and sell the chick's. But I've read it may be better to wait and let her ween them first?

What's the best way to sell chicks hatched from a broody Momma?

Or should I just suck it up and buy an incubator if I want to sell chick's, at all?

 

[Debbie292d]

Our Roo has started his "roosterly duties" this week lol. We've got 9 BO hens, and one already tried to go broody late fall/early winter. So I'm just waiting for a broody hen. I'm wanting to let her hatch a clutch and sell the chick's. But I've read it may be better to wait and let her ween them first?

What's the best way to sell chicks hatched from a broody Momma?

Or should I just suck it up and buy an incubator if I want to sell chick's, at all?

I sold my silky hen's babies when they were a week old, but I left her with one. He's my profile pic. I think it's mean to take ALL their babies after they sat three weeks to do what they wanted to do, be a mom. She never seemed to care she went from 6 to 1.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I suggest either 'weening' them from the broody on the broody's timing, or getting an incubator. If you take the chicks away too young, you can ruin your broody for life.

My experience with taking chicks away from a broody before she was ready ended with the broody being very vocal for days, then later going into a depression that nearly killed her. (I rehomed her, which she improved in her new home.) The broody was a very faithful, annual broody. After I took her chicks away before she was ready, she never went broody again.

 

[Sussex19]

When I have in the past, I waited till they were 5 or 6 weeks old.
With my hens, they were weened by then anyway, and even if the mother was still looking after them a bit she isn't really bothered.
Also, they don't need heat, which at least around here people really like.
They have been snapped up every time.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I never take them all, I always leave 2 or 3 for mama. If she loses those, that's on her, but I won't take them all unless there's an issue

 

[Debbie292d]

I never take them all, I always leave 2 or 3 for mama. If she loses those, that's on her, but I won't take them all unless there's an issue

Even one works. We did that. She didn't act like she even noticed she only had one. She probably figures predators got them.

 

[aart]

Even one works. We did that. She didn't act like she even noticed she only had one. She probably figures predators got them.

Having only one can make it harder for the chick to merge in with the flock.
Have had that happen here a couple times.

 

[Debbie292d]

Having only one can make it harder for the chick to merge in with the flock.
Have had that happen here a couple times.

Here's our orphan, my profile pic. During the polar vortex in Dec. in WI, even in a heated coop the temp wasn't staying above freezing, and he wasn't able to snuggle with anyone and was shivering so we brought him in for the night. He's now #2 of 2 roosters here.