- Jun 17, 2012
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When should I hatch a new flock out of my best 4 hens? What year they will only be 1 in march and I'm itching to incubate some. Already have a couple people wanting me to hatch them some.
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When should I hatch a new flock out of my best 4 hens? What year they will only be 1 in march and I'm itching to incubate some. Already have a couple people wanting me to hatch them some.
A small grow out coop and small run is nice. Works as a breeder pen, cockerel pad and broody buster or place for hen to incubate. If busting broodies I pull hen out each morning and close coop door so she is in run all day. A small coop is practically essential even if it's unoccupied 8 months of the year. Mines a wee 3x3ft in a 8x8 covered run.
Keep hens for as long as they are productive. With hatchery birds I use to cull them in fall before they molted or started to molt. 2.5 years old. Some birds are productive longer but generally the production birds peter out third year so no need to feed them all molt and winter. I hatch every spring so try to sell a lot of year old layers cheap that don't make the breeding cut.