Setting Hens article
Posted by: empalo <empalo@...>
In order to use the natural method to hatch and raise chicks, you must have
a broody hen (one ready to set). This is genetic, as broodiness has been
largely breed out of most production strains. The Mediterranean class are
also not noted for their broodiness. Most Heavy Breed of hens will go broody
as will most bantams.
You can not make a hen go broody. There is no special feed or hormones that
you can give. Broodiness is part of the early molt process. A hen will loose
the feathers on her breast. The eggs are warmed by the skin of her breast,
not by her feathers. Her body temperature also has to drop to about 100
degrees F. Her metabolism has to drop. She will only get off the nest once a
day, for about 1/2 hour to 1 hour. This is the time she will eat, drink, and
poop. You can tell when you have a setting hen as not only will you see an
extra large amount of feces, it will have an odor that will "knock your
socks off" when she first defecates. She will be that ball of feathers that
is running around in the yard clucking to her self, trying to stay away from
the other chickens. They will hassle her if they have a chance. When on the
nest she is the hen that will "growl" at you and the other hens when they
come near the nest. Some will even pick at you. Most hens will set during
the spring, when the number of hours of daylight is on the increase.
Having decided to use the natural method of hatching and rearing chicks, you
must be prepared. A hen will set when she wants to, not when it is
convenient for you. Depending on the number of hens you plan on setting, you
will need nest boxes for them all. Small cardboard boxes, the size to fit
the breed, work well. They can be burnt after the chicks hatch, controlling
illness.
Once a hen has the desire to set, she will. Several days before she is
ready, she can be heard clucking to herself as she moves around. If she is
in a cage mark down the cage number. If she is in a flock mark down her leg
band number. When you do chores if she is on the nest, take her out and set
her on the floor. Don't take the egg(s). Check back at dusk, if she went
back in the nest, chances are that she is ready.
If your breeders are set up in pairs, the hen can set, hatch and raise her
chicks in her cage. Cut the flaps off the box, place some fresh wood
shavings in the bottom of the box. After placing enough eggs to fill the
nest, but not more than she can cover (11 works out well) place the hen in
the box at dusk. She can come and go out of the nest as she pleases to eat,
exercise, and get rid of waste.
For a hen in a flock, her nest box is set up differently. On 2 sides of her
box air vents are cut. They should be about 1 inch wide, an inch from the
top and ends. Leave the flaps on so that the box top can be closed. With
fresh shavings in the box, place her and the eggs that she is on in it. She
may be able to cover more eggs than she is on. From the eggs that you have
been holding back, take enough to fill her nest, but no more than she can
cover ( 11 works out well ). Close the box and set it somewhere safe and
quiet. This way the other hens in the pen will not be able to pester her and
drive her out of the nest. She will need to be taken out of her box for
around 1/2 hour each day to eat, exercise and get rid of waste.
A hen in a cage can raise her young in her cage, until they start to become
crowded. For a hen from a flock, she should be given a cage or large box for
a few weeks or until the chicks start to feather. At this time she can be
returned to the flock with her chicks, but watch them to be sure that the
other hens do not pester the chicks too much. Once the other hens get use to
chicks running around, they hardly pay any attention to them.
Althrough the laying hens in a flock rarely pester the chicks when
interduced to the flock, this is not the case with broodies. Not only will 2
hens with chicks fight, they will pick at and even kill chicks that don't
match their brood as to color and size. Therefore do not house 2 hens with
chicks in the area/house/cage. There is less of a problem with free range
hens as the hens and chicks can get away. But then there is the preditor
problem.
Hatching and raising chicks the natural method is harder and requires more
work and time than hatching in an incubator and raising in a brooder.
However the reward of seeing a chicken family far out weights the time and
work required.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4175/hens.html