Re: Ridiculous question

Tracie <jsba15211@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <Omelet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

Don't hatch your own chicks unless you are willing and able to deal with
excess cockerels. This has always been a pet peeve of mine!

They are tender enough to fry if you do them at under 6 months of age
IME.
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson



As I wrote in my original post, have a home already for the youngsters;
cockerels or otherwise. I wanted to keep maybe two or three pullets for
myself depending on how many were hatched and what sex they turned out to
be.

Tracie


Hi Tracie,

seems this thread has started to move away from your individual question
to some more general problem, don't let this put you off. It's certainly
not something that is meant personally.

Like Om already wrote, hens don't get broody when you want them to, the
do if their hormon levels make them. Some hens never go broody!

You can try and encourage her by giving her optimum conditions:

- a dark and comfy nest box, in a quiet place where she feels
undisturbed

- nesting material in it, I've always used fresh hay even though Jill
recommends not to ;-) It wants to be fresh and very dry. Straw wil do
but they don't like it as much, it's a bit prickly.

Very funny to watch them sit on the nest, picking up a single piece of
hay or straw to lay it across their back for camouflage!!

- a handful of nest eggs that you can leave in the box while removing
all real eggs daily. I take eggs out in the evening (my coop is a solid
brick building with cool temperatures inside even in summer), that way I
will notice any "suspects" very early. (Normally I don't want my hens to
go broody)

- good layers pellets to supply her with the necessary nutrients. She
needs to be in good condition to hatch a clutch, certainly not chubby
but not underweight either.


She will have to lay eggs for a while before she can get broody. In some
breeds, a dozen eggs will do, but in most others hens will lay for weeks
and weeks before they get in the mood. Nothing but paitence will help
there provided you've given her all the above conditions.

If ever your hen does get broody, I would recommend you get some
fertilized eggs from somebody who has a rooster. They should not be
older than 14 days, the fresher the better.

Nuele (D)
.