Broodies on the Homestead

[Mini Horses]

I have hens this time of year who just seem to want to sit on the nests for a couple hrs. Not always ON eggs. Suppose it is a "safe" feel for them . It sure makes some of the other hens put up a cackle fest, as we all know that only ONE nest will do!! 8 lovely nests and 6 eggs in one. Go, girls! Even the roos join into the hollering. Probably trying to tell them to shut up.

I don't expect broodies until next month. That's fine. Will set all that cooperate, for new layers early Fall. Then...well, some downsizing, we'll say.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't expect broodies until around the end of April, first of May! That's when I normally get them...but this year I'm betting it will be earlier. Everything is earlier this year.

 

[Beekissed]

Caught a hen sneaking out of a wood's nest...found 14 eggs in that nest from 3 different chickens~WR, BA and EE/WR mix. Blocked the nest, destroyed the site a little. Too far away from the protection of the dogs to be a viable broody nest, though it was one of my best WR hens laying most of the eggs in it.

If she establishes one up closer to the dog's boundary, I'll let her keep it and see if she'll follow through on developing a brood site and sitting. But, I'll be selective as to what eggs remain in that nest...no green eggs, that's for sure.

 

[Mini Horses]

no green eggs, that's for sure.

AWWWW. No fun!

You probably mean that because of the crossbreed but, as far as production my EEs give me great eggs, harder shells, large sizes -- and my egg customers love them. Partly they like opening the carton to find a lovely, colorful display. If they have young kids it's often fun for them to pick the egg they want cooked. LOL. They are also hens that people ask for when buying some for backyard flocks. Again, their kids love the "easter egg hunt" colors. Some colors are from the purebreds like dark ones from Marans & Welsummer, too.

I do pen certain hen breeds to maintain control of the roo/hen crosses for the purebreds. It's a pain but, necessary for that purpose. It's not all year, only when I am collecting eggs for THAT type. Then, some are penned just to create those colored eggs. It's my marketability thing here & not anything to do with dual purpose. Those buyers just want pretty eggs. They all free range and taste great.

If we could just get brown goats & cows to give chocolate milk !

 

[Beekissed]

You probably mean that because of the crossbreed but,

I mean it because, so far, they aren't showing me the quality of laying I like to see in pullets~should have started in the fall or winter like my WR mix pullets did~ and also because the cross with the EE produces a small bird and I eat my layers when they are done. I also breed them for males that I also use for meat here...meaning I want big males, so the hens have to have some good dual purpose genetics going on before I allow them to breed and reproduce.

The only reason I hatched the mix of from this particular EE was due to her stellar laying at her age(she was given to me by a sister, she was 5 at the time and still laying in good cycles in laying season~this season she's starting up but not laying too regularly, which will likely place her on the cull list before she develops issues)but that doesn't always come out in the next generation. This time it didn't. They lay average for most backyard chickens and probably average for their breed, but I don't keep average layers in my flock.

 

[Beekissed]

Night before last I loaded up the first true broody of the year, gave her 20+ eggs, and moved her to the new/old broody nest boxes in the maternity ward.

Got this piece of whatever when I picked up free pallets at Rural King...it may have been a display case of some kind or a packing crate, but it looked like potential nest boxes to me, so had my son reinforce them, cut them in such a way that he could apply a slanted lid to prevent roosting on the top.

Used all free materials...that original thingy, some free sticker wood from Lowe's, and a piece of plywood from the old outhouse for the lid. It ain't pretty, but it's functional and free~my two fave "F" words.

 

[Beekissed]

Broody #1 had her hatch on the 16th, had 8 biddies and all are doing well. Were out of the pen on range today for the first time in the sunshine and cool, green grass. Didn't get a pic of when they came out, was too busy to get one.

Got another broody on the nest and she will hatch her eggs on May 3rd. Sure hope for a better hatch rate with this one.

 

[sumi]

Ahh, look at them! I love broodies with chicks. Best part of chicken keeping in my opinion.

 

[BarredBuff]

Those are wonderful! How many eggs did she set on? Is that a White Rock?

 

[Beekissed]

Those are wonderful! How many eggs did she set on? Is that a White Rock?

She is a WR but the chicks are WR and mostly WR/BA mix chicks. I've been having a very poor hatch rate last year and now, it would seem, this year, as I gave her 20+ eggs and only 8 made it to life after hatching.