Re: Suggestions on Getting Hens to Sit, Please

"Lionhardht" <thepride1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dt1mg.8868$o4.5957@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We have a dozen hens (10 Plymouth Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds). They are
laying, on average, 11 eggs (total) daily. However, being 1yr+ old, they
have yet to sit/brood. My father says that it's because they are being
fed
laying mash and whole corn. He says if we stop the laying mash, they'll
go
to sitting. Is he right OR do I need to do something else?


They sound like they are great layers ---- so they SHOULD be bad broodies
The genetics for great laying birds rarely encourages good sitting qualities
as they are opposing forces
If you stop feeding them well as you are now, all you will do is starve your
birds which is not good.
Birds who are sitting are eating VERY little for 3 weeks -- they should be
in top condition for this -- not having been starved in the preceding
weeks/months
It may well be that at the end of the summer you may get a bird or two
sitting. If you get a warm spell of weather you may get a sitter for a bit.
They may or may not sit for all the weeks you need. Broodiness is not
something you can force. There are plenty of old wives tales like leaving
eggs in nests, starving birds, etc etc but if the genetics is not in her to
be a good broody she won't be. If her genetics is to be a good layer then
the chances of her being a good broody is low in her first 2 years.
I would not rely on really good layers to provide me with your incubation.
Get an incubator and raise their eggs - because that way you get good layers
in the next generation.
Or get chicks / growers from the same place as you got these ones from.

good luck but keep feeding the birds
If its summer where you are I would reduce the corn to a handful as its low
in protein and increases the chances of liver failure and fatty deposits.

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk



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