Wrath's Marans

[wrathsfarm]

Pop quiz !!!

What's the most babies you'd shove under a broody? 13 too many?

Go!!

 

[TexasBlues]

I gave mine 13. And the other hen hatched 9 chicks of her own and I added 4 more (marans) to give them both 13.
One of the broodies was extra rough when scratching around in the mulch and 1 chick… I think …got injured from her scratching and died.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I gave mine 13. And the other hen hatched 9 chicks of her own and I added 4 more (marans) to give them both 13.
One of the broodies was extra rough when scratching around in the mulch and 1 chick… I think …got injured from her scratching and died.

Ok...this helps. Lil Jessie is a pullet tho. So her size might play a factor. On a related note I just caught Poppy growling. Maybe he's going broody...

 

[TexasBlues]

these 2 hens hens hatched about a year ago. First time to go broody. They are both doing a good job, just one is a little reckless when scratching around the littles. A few of the chicks swapped teams on the first day outdoors, but I moved them back into their respective flocks before roost time.

 

[2ndTink]

Ok...this helps. Lil Jessie is a pullet tho. So her size might play a factor. On a related note I just caught Poppy growling. Maybe he's going broody... View attachment 4125047

Broody boys! You have a new line in the works?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Broody boys! You have a new line in the works?

Yes, might wanna get on the list for my broody roos I'm hatching. I'm gonna make quanzipple money.

Wait ...you might have some.


Lucky you....

 

[wrathsfarm]

Lil Jessie ended up only hatching 2 of hers. Now she has 10 so far from the Brinsea hatch of Marans.
4 from Jett. 1 from W/R and 3 from P/G. Not good lighting but I've been giving her chicks 2 at a time today by turning off the lights.

She's in a nest box connected to a small dog crate but her new spot is ready when she brings them off the nest.

 

[WingItRanch]

On the topic of broodies... this group seems pretty experienced. I have a question:

Is it better to provide hatching eggs to a broody within the first few days or... day old chicks once she's been sitting a while?

 

[wrathsfarm]

On the topic of broodies... this group seems pretty experienced. I have a question:

Is it better to provide hatching eggs to a broody within the first few days or... day old chicks once she's been sitting a while?

Good question... timing the incubator to match her 2-3 week sit and giving her day olds I feel would be easier, but it's a toss up for dealing with incubator maintenance over broody maintenance, but I separate most of my broodys to try and avoid other hens laying and chaos resulting in broken eggs.
I haven't experienced it but on rare occasions a broody will get confused pulling fake/eggs out and replacing them with chicks, or just not accept them. And I've had broodys that were awesome sitters, and then kill their first born.
I don't know, deep down I like giving her the eggs and watch that wonder happen naturally over incubator science better. When she comes off the nest with them and she's hatched them, they may not be her offspring but to her they are.

It's just nature's finest moment.

And then chaos ensues...

 

[z3lda3]

Not a good idea to pull her off the eggs at hatch, she'll come off the nest when she needs to.

Pop quiz !!!

What's the most babies you'd shove under a broody? 13 too many?

Go!!

I gave 8 standard Plymouth barred rocks (is it Plymouth? Like the mayflower or am I exhausted) to my bantam Cochin. They’re almost 3 weeks old, and everyone’s happy as can be.