Brightbird
In the Brooder
- Jul 23, 2022
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So last year we had one egg hatch under a broody hen while she was still in the coop with the other hens. For about a week it was fine and the mom took care of that chick, but the other hens kept bothering her and her baby. Eventually I believe she became stressed and began to peck at the chick until it bled and I had to take him away and raise him myself. Now that spring is coming again, my hens will likely go broody again soon.
My question is whether or not we should figure out somewhere to put the broody hens and their eggs where they’ll be separated from the flock? I suppose it’s important to note that the hen that hatched last years chick was a Rhode Island Red and in my experience those usually don’t go broody, and when they do they tend to break out of it after a few days. I was surprised that she was able to stay broody enough to hatch anything. It’s much more likely that my two Orpingtons will go broody instead of any of the RIRs this time.
We don’t have anywhere else we could put them, at least not right now, both of our sheds are full of junk and one of them has insulation in it that I worry any chickens or future chicks would try to eat. If we aren’t able to move them away from the flock would it be better to break the hen out of her brooding cycle before she tries to hatch any eggs?
My question is whether or not we should figure out somewhere to put the broody hens and their eggs where they’ll be separated from the flock? I suppose it’s important to note that the hen that hatched last years chick was a Rhode Island Red and in my experience those usually don’t go broody, and when they do they tend to break out of it after a few days. I was surprised that she was able to stay broody enough to hatch anything. It’s much more likely that my two Orpingtons will go broody instead of any of the RIRs this time.
We don’t have anywhere else we could put them, at least not right now, both of our sheds are full of junk and one of them has insulation in it that I worry any chickens or future chicks would try to eat. If we aren’t able to move them away from the flock would it be better to break the hen out of her brooding cycle before she tries to hatch any eggs?