Where Do You Stand With Incubation?

[MageofMist]

Chicks ate friendlier?

My chicks that were raised by broodies are friendlier than my broader babies!

I have heard that broodie chicks tend to be wilder, and the chicks hatched by the hen are a bit more skittish around me compared to the ones I cared for at that age, but are still friendly and docile. I have been giving them some squished strawberry though and they have started warming up to me again and don't do warning calls when they see my hand as much.

 

[LilJoe]

I have heard that broodie chicks tend to be wilder, and the chicks hatched by the hen are a bit more skittish around me compared to the ones I cared for at that age, but are still friendly and docile. I have been giving them some squished strawberry though and they have started warming up to me again and don't do warning calls when they see my hand as much.

Dif you dpend time with tjem and Mama when little?

 

[bald Rooster]

Hello Everybody,

I have been thinking (uh oh, hide! I am thinking!)...
Me, myself prefers broody hens to hatch eggs. Incubation has two types, natural (broody) or electric. I have nothing *nothing at all* against electric incubators. In fact, I have electric incubated!

But here are some simple reasons why I have supported broody hens...

*If the power runs out, you will have warm eggs...Unless the hen runs out...
Ha ha. The pullets born under a hen...In my mind... Have more broody instincts.

(Yes, I have had incubated broody hens... But I notice a differences.)
It is purely amazing to watch a mother hen and her chicks.

A broody hen will protect the baby more than a light bulb.*

So, etc. like I said, I have nothing against electric incubation,
I just prefer broody hens.

I do not know if this is even God knows possible, but in twenty years if hatcheries and egg factories all incubate eggs, hens might no longer have a broody mother instinct.

I am creating this topic to see what you all think.
What do you prefer and why? What do you support or like?

Do you agree with me? Thank you for viewing,
if you visit, please vote on the poll.

Thank you,
The Angry Hen

I think the whole broody hen deal is much to hard on the hen poor things.With the incubators available and brooders there is far less danger of chicks being smashed or harmed in some way or pecked. So far Ive raised about 80 chicks and have not lost a single one in my brooder.
If you have a small flock and enjoy the momma hen thing Do it.
But for me its just to much trouble.

 

[MageofMist]

Dif you dpend time with tjem and Mama when little?

I hatched them due to her leaving the nest when they had pipped, causing some dry membrane issues (Still had a 100% hatch), and they are 1 week old and I have been spending lots of time with them and their mama, even holding them as they doze off with mama hen on my lap enjoying pets, but when running out and about with their mum, they want nothing to do with me while the others DEMANDED I snuggled with them at all time.

I guess the broodie ones are just a bit more independent even at a young age than my overgrown babies who are 3 month old and still demand snuggles.

 

[LilJoe]

 

[bald Rooster]

I am on the fence with this topic. I have several great broody hens, but have only allowed them to sit one time several years ago. The chicks were precious, but I found that I was worried about their safety. I finally moved the hen and her chicks into a brooder my husband built. It was a good experience and I am thinking about trying it again soon.

On the other hand, I have a small incubator (7/8 eggs) and I use it each spring, choosing the best eggs and hope for females. This year I have 19 chicks that were hatched by me and 2 teacher friends. They were all born between April 1 and April 21. They are still in my 12' x 4' brooder. I am building a new coop for the increasing flock numbers. Of the 19, it appears that 6 are roosters. I incubate eggs so my young grandchildren can experience the life cycle of the chicken. I also like to be able to choose the eggs...love my green, blue and chocolate eggs and would love to have more of those hens.

Gail this sounds just like me! only my grandchildren and I only started keeping chicken's a about 18 m months ago

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Chicks ate friendlier?

My chicks that were raised by broodies are friendlier than my broader babies!

Not at all true for me, my incubator hatched chicks are extremely tame and friendly while broody raised chicks are wild.

 

[LilJoe]

Not at all true for me, my incubator hatched chicks are extremely tame and friendly while broody raised chicks are wild.

My brooder chicks are wild!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

My brooder chicks are wild!

Where do you keep them? Do you spend time with them? I don't spend a lot of time with mine, but it doesn't make a difference.

 

[ShadesofSable]

I like to incubator hatch and then foster them onto a broody hen. I get the joy of watching the chicks hatch and then the hen helps them with integrating into the flock!