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Post by swisscharrd on Jun 13, 2009 10:34:35 GMT -5
I have heard how to get a hen to not be broody, but not how to make a hen feel broody. So I was wondering if anyone knows. Also does it work to get baby chicks and give them to a mother hen when she did not hatch them? And has anyone bought eggs to get a hen to hatch?
I got an exotic mix but had some Raccoon problems at first. They must have got all the Araucanas because I have none of those. I would like to have some of the hens I already posses hatch out a batch of Araucana to avoid the baby chick in the house care etc. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
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Post by grungy on Jun 13, 2009 23:32:56 GMT -5
A broody hen doesn't care where the chicks come from. We had 2 banties hatch out 14 chicks of their own and then slipped another 31 in from the incubator. The two of them managed to raise all 45 chicks. And yes it was a riot watching them try to keep tucking chicks under the feathers.
Yes you can use bought eggs, provide you get them from a flock with how shall we say this, an active rooster. Transport the eggs as carefully as possible, and do not wash or refridgerate the eggs between laying and giving them to the hen.
As for a hen becoming broody, I don't know as our bantys start becoming broody in late spring and continue until it gets cool in the fall. I would guess it might have something to do with the light cycle but that is only a guess.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 14, 2009 10:08:44 GMT -5
If you buy eggs from an online auction like eggbid.com, or ebay, try to buy from someone in the same geographical area as you if at all possible. For eggsample, if you live on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S., then don't go looking for eggs from California. Airplane rides, altitude, rough handling, and the number of days held before hatching have a detrimental effect on the hatchability of an egg.
I have hatched three times from eggs shipped clear across the continent, but out of 2 to 3 dozen eggs shipped each time, I only had one ( or zero) hatch. Not great odds. I must note that these were not just any old variety of egg. I was attempting to hatch out a particular lineage of a breed, or a breed that was not available any place else in the country at that time.
Oh and holding time before setting is important as well. The fresher the eggs the better. Less than 7 days held is optimum. More than 14 days, the fertility decreases by 10% per day!!!!!
and yes, Grungy is correct. Daylight hours are very much a factor in the fertility and breeding of chickens and horses too.
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Post by swisscharrd on Jun 17, 2009 12:14:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. It sounds like there is nothing that makes them broody other than Mother Nature. So since this is the longest daylight time of the year they may possibly get broody now? I hope. I will have to see which company lives the closest to me.
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Post by grunt on Jun 17, 2009 22:55:10 GMT -5
Actually, they usually go broody earlier, in the spring, when it is most likely there will be ample food available around the time the chicks will hatch out. It's a hold over from their wild ancestors breeding patterns.
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Post by swisscharrd on Jun 20, 2009 8:20:31 GMT -5
Hmmmm I guess mine did not then, or possibly taking their eggs each day discourages that.
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Post by kimikat on Jul 5, 2009 19:19:05 GMT -5
We trick our banties into going broody by putting golf balls in the nest...Or just start collecting eggs and putting them in a nest eventually they'll just set on them. Our two momma banties actually just hatched a nest of 15 guinea keets.
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Post by swisscharrd on Jul 10, 2009 9:50:32 GMT -5
Thanks, I was thinking of maybe using the fake eggs idea. I have three older hens that do not lay much any more and was hoping one of them would be the pick to do it. They are in their own area and would not affect the younger ones. Maybe missed my window but does not hurt to try.
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