Nature Vs Incubator

[walldanzig]

My last post on this one definatley reccomend the hens over the incubator they are just so much bigger and healthier looking. Only thing I am unsure about is when to let them out they are 3 days old now I will have to build a ramp for the rabbit hutch but am a little unsure as to letting them out

[RichmondHens]

As long as they will have protection from predators (ie enclosed run) they can come out from day old. The hen will decide what's best for them. If it's warm weather she will welcome the chance to sit outside with them with the chicks out in the sun rather than having to cover them all the time. The hen will also want to dustbathe and have a flap around etc.

[Birdie Wife]

I would choose a broody hen any day for healthy, well socialised chicks with much less work involved in rearing. Also, the chicks will pick up immunity from more bugs from a broody hen (cna't remember where I read that, probably Katie Thears' book) and so don't need a chick food with an anti-cocci additive. I got a lovely surprise last night when I was on the phone outside in the garden, heard cheeping and went over to the hen run to find a hatched chick running around the run, closely follwed by mum! I thought the hach was a bit overdue but as the last hatch failed completely I didn't hold out much hope... two more chicks this morning too. Have moved them all into their own smaller run with chick food nature is great!

[walldanzig]

Thats great news I've got to say I have to agree they just look so much better. Seem more active and I like the fact she hatched them feels a bit mean forcing them not to be broody and is nice letting them do what nature intended even if it is just once. I do want to let them rear their own. The ones under them are from ebay.

[RichmondHens]

I agree, a broody hen wandering around with chicks is a great sight. I have enough hens to cope with "losing" some to broodiness so don't generally bother forcing them out of being broody. In fact, I tend to take advantage of it and just let them be, stuffing a few eggs under each one as they turn broody and wait and see what comes off. I have a variety of broody coops knocking around that they can go into, but with recently as many as 7 bantams either incubating or with chicks we've run out, so had two in the nest box and another in an old fruit box in a stable. One has gone off and has made a nest in some nettles but she seems fine so far.

Because they spend so much time broody over the spring and summer months, it does mean that come later on in the autumn, when the big birds are coming off lay and into moult, the bantams go into laying mode and I have eggs most of the winter.

[Chocolate Brownie]

the hen looks like feisty the shicks are sooo cute

[walldanzig]

The hen pictured is fine very sweet natured the other one which has hatched two this morning is venomous. I had a sneeky look to see how many had hatched(2) peck peck peck she's proper nasty but then again I suppose she's just defending themselves

[RichmondHens]

Yep - I have some Light Sussex bantams and they are very good natured. I make a point of stroking the broodies daily (like a cat) on the nest and tickling their head. They seem to love it. When hatch day comes they are much more relaxed about my presence and don't seem to mind me handling the chicks to check them all out. BUT I have another older bantam (Norfolk Grey) who although v placid while brooding, becomes the hen from hell once her chicks hatch and will have my arm off. She goes through a really aggressive period for about 5 weeks then relaxes into her normal state again once the chicks are old enough to be independent. They are funny, aren't they?

[walldanzig]

they are funny if not a little violent. I got such a suprise when I first started keeping chickens they can be sweet natured but they have a very aggresive side as well