Trying to decide…

[DarlingChicken]

Coyotes picked off about five of our chickens about 6 months ago, and I am thinking of getting more. One of my hens has gone broody for quite some time: two months to be exact. I have never incubated eggs before and was wondering if I should buy some eggs to stick under my broody hen, or try my hand at incubating? What seems to work better, or does it depend on the hen? On top of that: any good incubators you know of? I’m looking for one to hatch about 8 eggs.

 

[21_chickens]

Coyotes picked off about five of our chickens about 6 months ago, and I am thinking of getting more. One of my hens has gone broody for quite some time: two months to be exact. I have never incubated eggs before and was wondering if I should buy some eggs to stick under my broody hen, or try my hand at incubating? What seems to work better, or does it depend on the hen? On top of that: any good incubators you know of? I’m looking for one to hatch about 8 eggs.

I would stick some eggs under your broody hen and see how that works. It is sometimes hard to introduce younger chickens into a flock but it sometimes works!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I wouldn't, actually. If your hen has already been broody for 8 weeks, IMO you need to break her of her broodiness for her health's sake. It only takes 3 weeks to hatch out eggs, she's been broody more than twice that. She could be losing weight and condition. To put eggs under her and expect her to set for three more weeks is asking too much. In my opinion.

 

[DarlingChicken]

We have broke her of broodiness once before, but she’s back at it. She took a week long break four weeks in. We’ve been making sure she’s eating lots of greens and drinking plenty of water...

 

[DarlingChicken]

I would stick some eggs under your broody hen and see how that works. It is sometimes hard to introduce younger chickens into a flock but it sometimes works!

Okay thank you! I have another broody hen too, but she’s very mild mannered, somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order. Would she make a good mother? I was just concerned that maybe the other chickens would pick on her chicks and she wouldn’t be able to defend them... she’s a salmon faverolle cross

 

[cottontail farm]

We have broke her of broodiness once before, but she’s back at it. She took a week long break four weeks in. We’ve been making sure she’s eating lots of greens and drinking plenty of water...

That's a long time to be waiting for babies that haven't hatched. I've been in something close to this situation before. The best bet is to find some chicks on craigslist ASAP to stick under her. You can post looking for day old birds, if no one responds then start contacting anyone has posted birds for sale and asking if they have any day old chicks.. I contacted a woman with month old chicks and she happened tqo have another batch hatching.
Best of luck

 

[21_chickens]

Okay thank you! I have another broody hen too, but she’s very mild mannered, somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order. Would she make a good mother? I was just concerned that maybe the other chickens would pick on her chicks and she wouldn’t be able to defend them... she’s a salmon faverolle cross

I’m not sure. Are there any other hens you could stick them with?

 

[DarlingChicken]

That's a long time to be waiting for babies that haven't hatched. I've been in something close to this situation before. The best bet is to find some chicks on craigslist ASAP to stick under her. You can post looking for day old birds, if no one responds then start contacting anyone has posted birds for sale and asking if they have any day old chicks.. I contacted a woman with month old chicks and she happened tqo have another batch hatching.
Best of luck

Thank you so much for the advice!! Just stick day old chicks under her? Papa’s Poultry, a specialist Poultry Breeder is nearby, I will contact them.

 

[featherhead007]

I don't know.... I hope you pay that babysitting hen well!

 

[DarlingChicken]

I don't know.... I hope you pay that babysitting hen well!

Don’t worry, I will