Re: Can I trust my chickens?

From: E Gregory (uepmeg_at_email.unc.edu)
Date: 01/25/05 

Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 13:37:57 -0500

  Jill. wrote:
> dancutter@charter.net wrote:
>
>>I have fifteen assorted chickens (no rooster) and would like to add
>>ten bantams to the coop. I'd like to order the eggs and have my
>>chickens do the rest. There is always at least one broody hen at any
>>given time, the bantam is the best though. Sooo, Can I order my eggs
>>and trust the chickens? What special things should I do, if anything?
>>Thanks to any responders. Dan
>
>
> Talk to the folks you want to order the eggs from and explain you are using
> broodies
> You say you have a bird broody all the time -- how long are they broody
> for - if routinely less than 3 weeks they will be liable to leave semi
> incubated eggs and an incubator would be a useful backup?
> If you are leaving them to be broody for 3 plus weeks [ the time taken to
> hatch a clutch] then these birds will be exceedingly depleted as they
> effectively starve while they are broody
> Good luck
>
> --
>
> regards
> Jill Bowis
>
> Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
> Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
> Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
> Holidays in Scotland and Wales
> http://www.kintaline.co.uk
>

(Hi Jill)

I just wanted to note that not all hens starve themselves when they're
broody. I have a couple who do get depleted when they sit too long, but
most of them come off the eggs and franticly eat, drink, dust bath, and
then hop back on the eggs! It's quite something to see, lots of activity
and squawking! I've never ordered eggs to hatch, but some hens will sit
on eggs the required time and some will only sit as long as they want
to. I know which of mine are ones to trust and which ones not. Have
your hens hatched eggs before? If not, you may not know which ones can
be trusted. I'd say go for it and as Jill has said have a back up plan,
be it an incubator or another broody hen
Good luck,
Eileen

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