Using a hen to repeatedly raise chicks

[Pork Pie]

Hi everyone,

I have used only one hen to sit and raise chicks as she goes broody every four weeks and is the dominant hen. She has raised two broods this year.

Whilst i understand that sitting on eggs for 21 days causes considerable loss of weight and general health for a mother hen, she seems to recover after a couple of weeks of hatching and does not begin to lay until the chicks are about 6-7 weeks old.

Is it acceptable to continue to use the hen repeatedly as a surrogate mother? Im new to this game, so any input would be appreciated.

Many thanks in advance

 

[aart]

Does she go broody every 4 weeks..... or every 9-10 weeks?
Does she raise the chicks to 6-7 weeks then go broody again?

I would think that if she is eating well during incubation and continues to have have good body condition, it shouldn't be a problem to let her go broody when she wants, unless you don't want more chicks.

What is your climate?
Could make a difference in her ability to take in enough nutrition while setting.
Putting your location in your profile can help folks give better suggestions/answers.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi, many thanks for the response. To answer your questions:

When she is on her normal laying cycle and not raising chicks she goes broody every 4 weeks.
She raises chicks for around 6-7 weeks before laying for 3-4 weeks and then goes broody again.

Our climate here in Kenya (hence the flag in my avatar) is tropical - so we have no difference in daylight hours and an average temperature of 22c - certainly perfect for humans and the chickens don't seem to mind either!!

Noted re: my location as i realise not everyone knows national flags.

Cheers

 

[aart]

I would think that in that mild climate she can regain her condition while raising the chicks then go broody again with no problem.....
....if she is eating well while setting eggs, some broodies don't eat enough.

 

[Pork Pie]

Thats the kind of response i was hoping for (i.e. supporting what i have done). She does not eat as normal (obviously) but i give her food in her brooder (a large plastic basin on a shelf) and water only after she was left the coop and fed and bathed etc on a daily basis.

Thanks once again for the response!

 

[aart]

Thats the kind of response i was hoping for (i.e. supporting what i have done). She does not eat as normal (obviously) but i give her food in her brooder (a large plastic basin on a shelf) and water only after she was left the coop and fed and bathed etc on a daily basis.

Thanks once again for the response!

I like to keep broody in a pen large enough for her nest and some room to walk around a bit, stretch her legs and poop.
Always food and water in there when she wants it, but not right next to the nest, she has to get up to get it.
They don't eat a lot while brooding as they are not expending a lot of energy just sitting, but they should keep mobile every day or two.

 

[Pork Pie]

your set up sounds ideal. I tempt her down from the nest with some millet seed on a daily basis to ensure that she then eats, drinks etc.

 

[Den in Penn]

I have one that was broody three times last year and twice this year. Every one that sees her says she looks fat. Of course most of them don't know chickens. Still for her age group she is, in my opinion, in the best condition. So if she takes some time between broods I would let yours go.

 

[Mrs. K]

I love a broody hen, and on the schedule you explained, I think she will be fine.

Last year, I had a broody raise 4 chicks the end of October, when they were 10 days old, the temperature dropped to 10 below zero F and I nearly pulled them. But she raised them just fine. I did soak grain. Another poster on here suggested it as a way to keep the chicks water needs partially met. In very cold weather, the water can freeze so fast.

Mrs K

 

[donrae]

I think the cycle you explained would be fine. As long as you keep an eye on her and she remains in good condition and parasite free, let her raise chicks to her heart's content! I'd love to have a hen that was that consistently broody--my most recent one just started laying again, so I'm hoping she'll want to set another clutch before fall. She's in wonderful condition (chicks are 4ish weeks old) and I'd be thrilled to get another batch before winter.