The Barn
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A tip for new chicken keepers
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A tip for new chicken keepers
Even though we have a bank of 4 nest boxes in the chicken coop, which is definitely enough for my 12 hens, we built an additional 2 nest boxes in a different location in the coop because I suspected my pink egg laying hen was being bullied out of the nests. I thought this because she hadn’t laid an egg in a couple of weeks. Sure enough, the very next day after adding the boxes, she laid an egg in the new box. So for those just learning about raising chickens, it’s a good idea to have a couple more nest boxes in different locations than you think you need. JIC.
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8 Replies
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Great insight and tip. I’ve had my girls a little over a year with three nest boxes for four bantams, yet most of the time there are two in the center box at once, no matter what, and occasionally three crammed and jammed; and one box almost never gets used. They are fickle little creatures.
Do you know how to get a hen out of brood (other than actually hatching eggs) or have any tips? One of my girls has been broody for at least three months. I tried catching it early as an intervention and that didn’t work. I also tried giving her quail eggs to hatch, but none of them did. I know it’s said that giving them cheeping chicks that they so badly want will do it, but I don’t really have a way to raise babies unless there’s advice or methods that fit in my limited situation in this suburban small back yard where they could remain in the coop and run with the four grown hens. Would a broody hen/mother accept purchased outside baby chicks and protect them, even if they may outgrow her? And how would I feed them grower crumble without the others eating it? I don’t have the space or facilities to keep them separated. Thanks for reading this. Suggestions are welcome.
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I personally have never dealt with broody hens because I raise breeds that are not known to go broody. But I have been following this lady for years. She is a self-proclaimed crazy chicken lady. Lol. In this video she explains how to use good broody hens but also how to break them of broodiness.
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Watch her too Love her videos 😃
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I personally have never dealt with a broody hen because I raise breeds that are not known to go broody. But this video is a woman whose channel I have been following for years and she is a self-proclaimed crazy chicken lady. Lol. In this video she gives some advice about using good broody hens and also breaking them out of it. I hope this helps.
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Thanks! Much appreciated.
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You bet. 😉
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I put the eggs in the incubator and not let the chickens go broody. The ladies are to heavy and will crack the eggs. It will cost there health, so no natural brooding here.
Also the amount is to mutch to handle, 2 big machines do the work for all of us.
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This is super helpful!
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