another broody hen article
Posted by: empalo <empalo@...>
HANDLEING BROODIES.
Brood hens are often used to hatch and raise poultry, but I often
hear comments about them leaving the nest before they hatch, or the nest
being in an awkward place for good management.
Haveing had some success in this area I will here try o pass on
some ideas for the novice poultry person.
First and of great importance is the breed of poultry used, as
some breeds just will not set no matter what, the Leghorn being one but not
the only one of these.
Almost any bantam breed will set, the Silky often being described
as a setting machine. With these small birds one must be careful not to
place more eggs than can be easily covered so as not to leave some to get
chilled. If there are too many eggs it is likely that none will hatch as the
hen moves the eggs around a great deal and every egg will be chilled at some
time durring incubation killing the embryo.
Among the large breeds of birds the game chickens are probably the
best. My personal favorite is The Old English Game. Once settled on the nest
they will endure a great deal of abuse and still maintain their post.
The Plymouth Rocks are also good setters and being larger birds
will set a larger clutch of eggs.
We must not forget the Muscovy Duck. These guys will set forever
it seems, will cover a large number of eggs, and can handle bigger eggs
makeing them good candidates for turkey eggs.
SOME PROBLEMS
No matter which breed.you choose sooner or later you will run into at least
some of these problems.
I have eggs ready to set but my hens aren't broody:
If they are not laying make sure they are getting the proper feed and
18 hrs. of light a day to start them laying. Above that nature has to take
it's course. If you can find a friend with a hen that is setting you may be
able to borrow or buy it, then move it to your place. If you are unable to
do that your next choice is to use an incubator.
I've found a setting hen now how o I move her:
I have moved many birds successfully using this method; First make
sure that the hen is setting good, she should have been on the nest for
several days. Gently slide your hand under her, careful she may peck at you
but she should stay on the nest. When your hand is under her she may settle
down on it. If she does she is ready to move. Get a box the size of a nest,
she will finish her set in this box so make sure it is big enough but not so
large that it allows the eggs to role around. It must be deep enough to
allow it to be covered with a lid of some sort. In this box put a quantity
of clean straw and some of the eggs she is sitting on. Place the hen in the
box and put the cover on it to keep her in. We are now ready to move our
broody. To do this simply take the box and place it were you want it, a dark
place out of the way so she won't be disturbed is best, and place feed and
water near by. If you have a confined area so much the better. Keep the
cover no the box for at least 48 hrs. so she gets used to her new nest. This
will not harm her as a setting hen only gets off the nest once a day at most
to eat and do her business. Keep a close watch and make sure she returns to
the nest, if she doesn't place her back on the nest and put the cover back
in place. Repeat the next day, if she still won't go back to the nest on her
own put her back on again. On the third day if she doesn't go back to the
nest on her own she probably never will. When she returns to the nest on her
own watch her for three more days and if she is still setting you can trust
her to hatch her eggs.
My hen is setting but not on the right eggs:
To switch the eggs under a hen that has set good for at least
three days (a week is better) you must go to her at night with a flashlight
and wearing a pair of gloves as you will get pecked. The flashlight is so
you can see your way around in the dark and should not be flashed around a
lot. Gently slide your hand under the hen and remove all the eggs she has.
Hopefully you will know how many eggs are there so you can count them as
they are removed to make sure you get them all otherwise by feel make sure
there are none left for if there are they will hatch long before the good
ones you are about to put under her and she will leave the nest with the one
mutt chick and you will lose the rest of the eggs. Now that you have removed
all the old eggs replace them with the eggs you want hatched and quietly go
to the house and have a cup of tea to relax you. The next day you will find
"Mrs. Broody" still happily setting on her eggs and pecking at anyone who
dares to come near.
My chicks are hatched will the hen raise them:
If you have a confined area where mother and chicks can be left alone with
no long grass or other birds to bother the chicks then yes the hen will
brood the chicks. No long grass is very important as in the morning it can
be quite wet with dew and this will give the chicks a chill and they will
die.
If you are unable to provide these conditions or you want to keep
the hen setting there is nothing wrong with taking the chicks away as they
become dry or as soon after as is practical and brooding them yourself. (See
Breeding Poultry for details)