To Hatch or not To Hatch...

[aart]

Sell some pullets

Foldable wire dog crate good investment for a chickeneer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m married so I understand about your husband. When I ask my wife what are her plans for a certain day she invariably says “I don’t know”. I just tell her I’ll plan accordingly. We muddle through.

 

[lazy gardener]

The only reason that I can think of for you to let her set is this: Did you say that the last time you had chicks was 2 years ago? If so, those gals are moving along in age. You could sell some of your older hens, and let her hatch. If she's still producing eggs, I wonder how ready she is to set a clutch of eggs. The chicks would be hatched around Sept 10. Temp then isn't much different than it is in late April. The chicks would be 4 weeks old and pretty well feathered by Oct 10. They would start laying as the days get longer after the winter solstice. Do you free range? That might be an issue with fall hawk migration. Only you can decide if it's worth the bother.

 

[bobbi-j]

Sell some pullets

Foldable wire dog crate good investment for a chickeneer.

Oh, aart, I wish I could.... I just don't know which ones I want to get rid of! I have a few extras of a couple of breeds, I guess. But you know, I've got this other little "project" with the two cockerels and pullets with each of them so I can play with trying to grow some meatier birds, and I've got that cute little silver penciled rock I have to keep...

 

[bobbi-j]

The only reason that I can think of for you to let her set is this: Did you say that the last time you had chicks was 2 years ago? If so, those gals are moving along in age. You could sell some of your older hens, and let her hatch. If she's still producing eggs, I wonder how ready she is to set a clutch of eggs. The chicks would be hatched around Sept 10. Temp then isn't much different than it is in late April. The chicks would be 4 weeks old and pretty well feathered by Oct 10. They would start laying as the days get longer after the winter solstice. Do you free range? That might be an issue with fall hawk migration. Only you can decide if it's worth the bother.

The last time she hatched any out was two years ago. No chicks here last year (OF COURSE she didn't go broody last year!), as I had no broody and didn't buy any. I got somewhere around 30 chicks this spring. Of those 30, I got 10 cockerels, 8 of which are now in the freezer, 2 that are going to get their own flocks as I divide them up between two coops for the winter. So I really can't justify it. She seems pretty ready to set. She didn't lay yesterday, and today every time I go out there, she's on the nest, pancaked, feathers puffed, growling, and wanting to kill me. Her typical broody behavior. I'm just hoping she doesn't skip next year for being broody again.

 

[donrae]

Send her to me!

I've got the broody club here, all the cool hens are doing it

I've decided broody hens get names. Most of the other birds don't, but these ladies. do.

Cocoa the cuckoo Marans just weaned her chicks and started laying again.
Snake (mean as a snake

) has 3ish week old chicks she seems to want to wean already.
Brahma Momma is setting on eggs.
Beth the little gold Silkie is setting on eggs.
Maggie the little birchen Cochin is wanting to set. I've got her on a fake egg while I'm collecting.

So, your girl would fit right in

I totally empathize with you, seriously. I hate to waste a broody hen. But, we know part of being responsible animal owners is not taking on more than we can manage, for whatever reason. I know part of you is screaming "but she's broody! Must hatch chicks".....but it's okay to let it go.

 

[bobbi-j]

Send her to me!

I've got the broody club here, all the cool hens are doing it

I've decided broody hens get names. Most of the other birds don't, but these ladies. do.

Cocoa the cuckoo Marans just weaned her chicks and started laying again.
Snake (mean as a snake

) has 3ish week old chicks she seems to want to wean already.
Brahma Momma is setting on eggs.
Beth the little gold Silkie is setting on eggs.
Maggie the little birchen Cochin is wanting to set. I've got her on a fake egg while I'm collecting.

So, your girl would fit right in

I totally empathize with you, seriously. I hate to waste a broody hen. But, we know part of being responsible animal owners is not taking on more than we can manage, for whatever reason. I know part of you is screaming "but she's broody! Must hatch chicks".....but it's okay to let it go.

Exactly! But, I am going to have to let it go this time. I just can't justify it!

 

[aart]

Quote: Are those pullets laying yet?
I know you're not supposed to hatch pullets eggs but.....I've done it (1st weeks eggs under a friends broody) and it worked out fine.

 

[bobbi-j]

Are those pullets laying yet?
I know you're not supposed to hatch pullets eggs but.....I've done it (1st weeks eggs under a friends broody) and it worked out fine.

So far, just one pullet egg showing up. Just started a week ago, and are pretty small yet.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This spring, I put 13 pullet eggs in the incubator. The pullets had been laying about a month. Five hatched. Later I put 20 pullet eggs in the incubator. Some had been laying over two months, some less than a month. Twelve hatched. Normally I get better hatch rates than that with pullet eggs but not this time. I had some eggs from older hens in there too both times. Hatch rate with them was better than the pullet eggs both times.

In both cases, all the chicks that hatched lived. That’s normally the case but I do occasionally have one die. When I do, it’s often a chick from a pullet egg. I just don’t think the chicks are quite as strong as chicks from larger eggs. But they will hatch and they will survive. I hatch pullet eggs every year.

Before Aart talks you into something, who’s the Daddy? If that pullet egg happens to be fertile is the right male the potential daddy? Just something else to consider.