Tips for keeping chick population down

[junebuggena]

They also claim that they are very large breed. Most hatchery Jersey Giants are not really very big at all.

 

[alessadry]

I think you're doing just fine. Like I said, I let my one girl hatch to her heart's content and she seems perfectly healthy to me. I doubt I could stop her even if I wanted to. Also, I don't think it's a bad thing if people eat home grown chickens, so if someone wants to eat what I produce, more power to them. I process excess roosters myself. Everyone's going to have opinions on how you should do everything. No biggie, just do what you think is right. Hopefully you got an idea you can use from what people posted.

Thanks, my mother hens are nice and plump and it is amazing how strong and healthy the chicks are (no sticky butts or itchy fits from the lights drying out their skin) compared to being under a heat lamp all day. Mother hen teaches them important life lessons chicks raised in a brooder miss out.

If I ever need more chicks one day, I will never go back to ordering from hatcheries or stores/ using the brooder and lamps but rather let nature run its course. Mother Nature knows best.

Thanks for the tip on the elevated cage. I am still though hoping the egg rolling nesting boxes would help at least reduce the chick population.

 

[alessadry]

They also claim that they are very large breed. Most hatchery Jersey Giants are not really very big at all.

True, the well bred ones should be large, but it seems like the hatchery ones don't meet the standard sizes. Most my hens so far are quite big as the average chickens. Most roosters I have had were very big though.

 

[alessadry]

When it is not conducive to chicks (like winter, or when I am going to be gone, etc) I remove eggs (like they said, only angry for a moment), I do this at night so even though they fuss it is like a dream to them. If the weather is conducive, and I want a few chicks to satisfy the chick craving, I will reduce the number of eggs to two or three. It keeps the population from growing too quickly. They get to be moms but instead of 7-8 babies, I only have a couple. With a 50% chance of a rooster, my numbers stay fairly consistent. (The roosters come to dinner)

That's a great idea about the evening egg removal, I will give it a try, thanks!

 

[aart]

It's pretty simple....break the broodies.

 

[Pacific Beach Ed]

Hello,
Looking for some advise. I now have 13 chickens (1 cockerel and 12 pullets). I had to give away a big part of my flock yesterday because these chickens were reproducing at an alarming rate.
I though love having at least 1 rooster, the one I have is very mellow and does an awesome job in watching over the pullets, so don't want to get rid of him. Neutering him is out of question, as I have heard not many vets do it and I don't want to stress him, so now wondering if there are other options.

Please note; I know I can prevent chicks from hatching by simply removing the eggs from under a broody hen but I don't want to do this. I hate causing stress to my flock and getting broody hens angry and all their vocalizations would alarm the whole flock. I know, I know, I am a wimp.

Would it work to have some of those nesting boxes where as soon as the pullet lays eggs, they roll down and away?

 

[Pacific Beach Ed]

House your rooster close by your flock but in a separate coop,, ED

 

[lazy gardener]

It appears that my post was inflammatory. My appologies. I was going on the information provided in your original post.

 

[CSAchook]

wouldn't it be highly maladaptive if they didn't have maternal instinct?

In a wild animal yes absolutely. In a domestic chicken, no not at all. Humans are the ones controlling their reproduction and can hatch the chicks with no help from the hen. So a hen can produce many viable offspring and greatly contribute to the next generation without EVER going broody (i.e. no maternal instinct). Many hatcheries do in fact select for non-broodiness especially in production breeds and hybrids.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

..... Maybe I can try hand feeding some goodies as I reach under to make them less upset. One thing that worries me though, is what if I am reaching under by mistake a chicken that hasn't yet made an egg yet and bother her and she'll go lay the egg somewhere else? I keep them free range and it is possible for them to lay eggs somewhere else if bothered..... chicken lay eggs in one of my large flower pots .... right next to my door,....

Hand feeding treats to a hen is a bad idea. Because the hen will pack on the fat around the old vent and that causes problems with your hens' egg plant.