Raising Chooks

[Miki]

This thread is another chapter of Broiler Chooks which, as well as AP really appeals to our senses. We enjoy eating both fish and chicken meat and in our adventure into the direction of self sufficiency, or part of at least (we do not see ourselves as going the whole way but do look forward to providing as much as possible for the dinner plate).

Gary's thread on BC's has really sparked our attention, just look at his results and we're not even looking at the cost thing but, as Annie has written previously, it's about knowing what has gone into them and their quality of life.

We started out with a chook and a rooster, and now also have five Australorps which haven't started laying yet but are on the verge of. Now the original chook is getting broody and sitting on her nest... she's just about stuck to it and all I've read about chooks and broodiness is that you either distract them to get out of it or let them sit and each day take the egg away and by the time you have several, put them back.

In my view these eggs have cooled off too much to hatch, or is that the way to go? I've had an offer from a neighbour willing to give me some fertilized eggs.... will our chook accept them? when and if these eggs are hatched do I separate the chook and chicks from the rest of the pack or will they be accepted and not bullied by the older ones?

Looking forward to any tips and help!

[GaryD]

Hi Miki,


Hi Miki,

I'm unclear as to whether the eggs that the chook has laid have been taken away or not.......and, if so, where you stored them.

Fertile eggs are stored at room temperature (this time of the year anyway) - never in a refrigerator.

If you can obtain a clutch of fertile eggs from your neighbour, carefully set these under your clucky hen. Try to keep her out of draughts and away from predators and she'll do the rest.

Don't be too concerned if she seems to wander off every now and then. She'll know when to return in time to avoid chilling the eggs.

If she hatches the eggs, she'll treat them as her own. Once they hatch, keep mum and the chicks in a small pen. She'll continue to keep them warm during the first weeks and she'll make sure that they don't wander too far. It's a good idea to separate mum and the chicks from the rest of the pack.....particularly the cockerel.

If you'd prefer the hen to come back into lay as quickly as possible, you can brood the chicks under a heater lamp and put the hen back in with the rest of the chickens.

If she persists with being broody....and you don't want this to happen....place her in a small crate with a slatted bottom and give her water but no food for a couple of days. The idea is to make her feel slightly uncomfortable......to snap her out of the broodiness.

Keep asking questions as the need arises.

Gary

[Miki]

Thanks Gary, the last egg wasn't put in the fridge with the others, it didn't seem right to do so although I have my doubts if this rooster actually does the deed. Fertilized eggs usually have a little extra to them than the white and the yolk and these eggs have not had that.....

It does seem logical to separate the mother and chicks from the rest but not having had any experience with this the mother could have protected the chicks from the big ones and the rooster. My AP (still in the planning stage) shade house with some extra protection to keep them in and some extra shelter for them to nest would be ideal.

What do you mean by carefully placing them under the hen? she is in a sort of a hutch with an open front so if I go toward it and put my hand out to do anything she makes a fuss but flies off in a huff...... I would then have to put the eggs in her nest and hope that she goes back!

[anniefish]

Hi Miki,
I've always put the eggs under a clucky hen at night time - just slip them under the hen usually from the back if you can. Just talk quietly to the hen and she should be fine. If you leave the hen with the chicks make sure you use a shallow tin I find Riga sprats tin we can buy from The Warehouse is ideal. You will need to make sure they always have water. You can buy chicken starter crumbles from most produce stores. If you are caught short you can boil eggs, cut them in half or crumble them up and give to them.
Good luck, and have fun,Annie.

[GaryD]

.....and if she still stacks on a turn if you're applying Annie's suggestion, let her fly off in a huff and put the eggs in her nest anyway. She will, in all probability, go back.

Gary

[Miki]

Thanks for that! Annie, do you use the tin for the feed or the water or both? How long would we be able to leave the eggs away from the hen before returning them?

[GaryD]

Hi,

You can gather and store fertile eggs for about a week. Hatchability will begin to decline fairly steadily after that.

Fertile eggs are best stored somewhere dark and cool.....and they should be clean. Discard soiled eggs.

Gary

[anniefish]

Hi Miki,
I use the tins for both until the chicks are big enough for a bigger dish. You can buy special feeders and waterers but for a start you don't have to have them. It is a good practice to turn the eggs every day especially in hot weather.
Annie

[Miki]

Just an update on whats been happening to my chook adventures....

We were given 6 eggs by the neighbour which we put in the nest when the broody chook was feeding. When she went back into her nest and found the eggs she had a massive fit - screeching etc - and did not go back in for a couple of weeks! we were in stitches, this really is a chook with character (I suppose they all are really but some just stick out). We left the eggs for a few days but all that happened was that the ducks started playing with them, so I removed them (the eggs).
In the meantime one of the new Australorp girls has 'suddenly' become a boy and is practising crowing (which is a laugh and a half because he tries this croaky thing and then the other rooster starts showing off and crows his head off). Anyway, we hope now that this 'changeling' might fertilize the eggs in the future so that it is all 'homegrown'.

[GaryD]

Hi,

Here's some photos of our chicken housing:

1. A chicken tractor
2. Our layer chicken house
3. The broiler chicken house

Gary