Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 11, 2014 20:30:43 GMT -5
Does anyone use natural brooding? I have seen in several old books that it is the way to go for big healthy chicks. Is this still true, or has advancing technology leveled the playing field for incubators?
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Post by sgtilton on Feb 11, 2014 22:07:36 GMT -5
I don't know whether its better or not, but my brother-in-law and I have some game hens we use just for that purpose. I'm too new to say whether it really helps or not, but my first impression was that we got a better hatch rate out of the game hens.
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Post by harrys on Feb 12, 2014 15:43:29 GMT -5
I do. In cold weather would only give them 15 chicks, springtime give them 25 chicks and summer time give them up to 50 chicks to take care.
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Post by d12chandler on Feb 12, 2014 19:13:32 GMT -5
Those game hen are good mothers, it doesn't take them long to teach there young to roost in a tree.
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Post by bamachicken on Feb 13, 2014 9:14:48 GMT -5
I know I would rather have a hen brood out a bunch than me They know what to do.
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Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 13, 2014 12:01:23 GMT -5
Can people explain their methods? I am considering trying it. How many eggs do you set? Do you add eggs to the nest? Do you keep the hen separate the whole time she is sitting? Do you move the nest later? How long do you leave the chicks with the hen? Do you need to separate at all? Thanks
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Post by sgtilton on Feb 13, 2014 13:16:43 GMT -5
Since I have game hens, I let them run around free-range until they get broody. Once I see they are broody I put them in a small pen isolated from other chickens. I also make sure the nest is secluded/out of sight (Like in a little box or something). After a week I will take out her old eggs (they are not fertile anyways) and put in my orpington eggs. Usually 6 to 8. As I candle each week I take the old ones out and put new ones in (I mark the dates so I know which ones go with which hatch). 3 days before hatch time I place them in the incubator so she doesn't turn them or mess with them. It works pretty well for me. *shrugs*
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Post by d12chandler on Feb 13, 2014 13:20:24 GMT -5
Do you put them back with the hen after they hatch?
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Post by sgtilton on Feb 13, 2014 15:38:23 GMT -5
No, I generally put them in a brooder. I don't hatch all my chicks this way. Most of them are incubated. I simply use the hens on the side. Once they are about to hatch I slip them in with the rest of the eggs scheduled to hatch, and once they hatch I just leave them all together. That way I can keep my game hens sitting on eggs.
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Post by chicksooner on Feb 15, 2014 20:23:44 GMT -5
I am all for the hen doing all the work. I have one in the garage now sitting. I separate in a cage and try to keep her out of sight from the others. Usually when one goes they all go. I don't have game hens but I put special leg bands on the best broodies. If they don't have a leg band they get put in a cage to break the broodiness. I think the chicks grow bigger and feather faster when hen raised. Mine also get to free range quite a bit and maybe the free range diet helps some.
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