The Poultry Keeper

tracey061196

Hi

I have 2 broody hens and this morning i took 1 of them out of where the rest of my hens and cockerals are and put her in my Large potting shed. Inside the potting shed i have a Pen where i put broody or chicks in. The pen is 8ft x 4ft.

I have put one of the broodies this morning in a cat box and she is sat on 8 eggs, could i put the other broody in another cat box and put her in the same pen?? Confused

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1195 Location: Correze

It's not generally recommended, as the hens will try to steal each other's eggs ... which could lead to breakages.

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 787 Location: Sussex

Why dont you just stick a bit of chicken wire down the middle?

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1186 Location: Manchester

I put two broodies in hutches/runs next to each other - I found 2 chicks dead that were right at the edge of the nest area, as close to the other nest as they could get - the only thing I can think of is that the chicks heard the other hen clucking and tried to get to it, not realising somewhoe that there was a hen right next to them!

It shocked me but I would never keep broodies with chicks that close again.

tracey061196 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:35 am Post subject:

Hi

Well i still have 2 broody hens and i put some cardboard inbetween them half way through the pen. That was almost a week ago and all looking good at the moment.

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 472 Location: gwent

i would defintatley run some chicken wire or somthing in between i have 3 birds who have all gone broody and one whoich hatched some chicks the other week only problem i have is i have no where to put them i have managed to source a hutch for the one so am going to sit her on some runners but the other two will jusyt have to cool off Laughing

Quackers · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

I have two broody hens squashed in a box that just fits them with 22 eggs under them, i keep removing them but they end up back together again and the eggs i had moved for the other were just left so i put em all back together.They are due to hatch in 6 days am i asking for trouble ?

Sandra Hilton · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

I have two Silkies gone broodie together in the normal nest box and the gold one is always sitting on all of the pot hens, the poor white one is left looking bereft. I have moved her to a rabbit hutch with two pot eggs, to see if she will settle there in which case I'll give her a whole load of eggs that I have put in the incubator yesterday. Now I am looking for rabbit hutches for broodies on Freecycle! LoL

Sandra

Quackers · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

My hens get on well together and even share the eggs when the other has a break trying to keep all 22 warm, then when the other returns they move up to let her in. I have only just started this year though and not sure what i am letting myself in for, i thought they only had 9 eggs but my other two hens have been filling it up, they all have a nest box each (4) but only use the one box. there must be 10 days apart from the first egg hatching till the last one now, do i move them once some have hatched?

Sandra Hilton · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject:

Oh, I think that you should maybe mark what you have now with pencil and then as new ones are a added, take them away, otherwise they risk being abandoned anyway when the first ones hatch, I would imagine?? But that is only me thinking that, someone with more experience will be along in a mo with the definitive answer to that one I'm sure. They have got quite a little co-operative going haven't they? What breed are they?

Sandra

Quackers · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

Hi
They have stopped adding now and have started to use another nest box, no increase in the last 10 days i think , it is full! They are road island reds, my cockrel has even taken them greens in what a sweetie. I can't wait for them to hatch and hope i am doing the right thing, i prefer to let nature take it's place but i know there is limits and i am stretching them.
Some advice would be very much appreciated by an experienced keeper.

Quackers · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

or views from a novice as we all have to start somewhere.

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1744 Location: norfolk

If you are going to be around when they hatch and when the broodies bring the chicks off the nest, you can judge then if it's going to be a success or not. I have had a pair of Jap banties and the little cockerel all in together and they brought off a family and shared responsibiliteis extremely well. The chicks would run to either hen and the cockerel was gentle and careful of them. They all went into one little house together and it worked very well. However, there can be problems so you should just observe them and then you can do a rescue job if necessary.

Quackers · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

Hi Thanks again
Just what i had in mind as they get on so well, just wondered if i was doing the right thing. They have a very large house and very large run, it is only cramped in the nesting box that is being used.

Sandra Hilton · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

Oh I love Rhodies they are lovely chickens. Are they full sized? One of mine did sit on a clutch of eggs in the nest box once and as there were two others taking up the broodie boxes I had nowhere else to put her, after the first two eggs hatched she abandoned the others and went off with the two chicks one of which mysteriously disappeared very soon, so she only had one left and that one was never accepted by the flock afterwards. So that is something to be aware of, but I hope it works out for you. They are certainly lovely birds, I would have some more if I can get LF sometime.

Sandra

Sandra