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For this being our cochins first shot at hatching, and ours too (I have a feeling she will be better at it than me) it has been great, nature is pretty awesome to see in action.
Since we are doing both right now, a broody is SOOOOOOOO much easier (we go into lock-down today, and I can't pull myself away from the bator for longer than a 1/2 hour in fear of a temp spike). I don't have to worry about anything with her, (and her hatch rate was 100%, I wished we gave her more than 4 to sit on) it's a total "set and forget". She turned into a great mom, she doesn't attack us, just gives us a warning that she is on duty.
A neighbor put out an old rabbit hutch that I repaired and modified to become her "nursery", it is protected inside the run of the main coop, everyone can see each other but be safe. In a few days we will let her out to explore and teach the youngins the ways of the world. It has worked out great, she has already taught them to eat and drink, she squaks and they dive back under her (so fun to watch them play "whack-a-mole" under her wings)
I can't recommend a broody enough, it is almost worth putting up with her broodyness when there were no eggs under her.
For this being our cochins first shot at hatching, and ours too (I have a feeling she will be better at it than me) it has been great, nature is pretty awesome to see in action.
Since we are doing both right now, a broody is SOOOOOOOO much easier (we go into lock-down today, and I can't pull myself away from the bator for longer than a 1/2 hour in fear of a temp spike). I don't have to worry about anything with her, (and her hatch rate was 100%, I wished we gave her more than 4 to sit on) it's a total "set and forget". She turned into a great mom, she doesn't attack us, just gives us a warning that she is on duty.
A neighbor put out an old rabbit hutch that I repaired and modified to become her "nursery", it is protected inside the run of the main coop, everyone can see each other but be safe. In a few days we will let her out to explore and teach the youngins the ways of the world. It has worked out great, she has already taught them to eat and drink, she squaks and they dive back under her (so fun to watch them play "whack-a-mole" under her wings)
I can't recommend a broody enough, it is almost worth putting up with her broodyness when there were no eggs under her.