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Post by stephenkristie on Nov 3, 2009 22:06:56 GMT 8
Hi everyone, I have 5 hens all on eggs i started with 8 eggs under 2 hens and now there all broody what id like to know if i let them all hatch and just let the hens take care of them without seperating them what will happen? I have a friend that says theyll be fine because our rooster isnt agresive. Can someone please help me? Thanks guys
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 3, 2009 23:17:30 GMT 8
Hi! Do all the hens have eggs under them? Are there other chooks in the pen? Having asked those questions, I also have a non-agressive rooster and he has never bothered the mum hens with their babies, but I have had the other chookies give them a bit of grief. I still allow the mum and babies to roam freely with the other chooks and take their chances and find that mum will look after the bubs really well, and have never lost any. I do know that others prefer to separate mums and bubs - even if just for predator protection. I would still wait for others to reply though, and if you could also say what type of chook too - it might make a difference - that would be great! Anyway - I will watch this post with interest - hope I was at least some help and good luck with your chooks!
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Post by stephenkristie on Nov 4, 2009 7:43:56 GMT 8
Yes all the chooks have eggs under them. they are farm chickens and have a large pen 6m by 6m they go out all day and are locked up at nite. there are rhode island reds & australoops. I wasnt sure if we could keep them all penned for 2 weeks then let the mums out for the afternoon and bring them in at nite? Hope this helps?
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 4, 2009 10:56:05 GMT 8
Once the chicks hatch and the mums start moving about keep an eye on them to make sure that none of the mums are over protective as they may fight the other mums and chicks can get killed in the scuffle. I currently have 3 mums and bubs in the same area, but right next door to them is a mum and bubs who would not even consider being in the same area as the others without fighting. Another reason I keep the chicks separate from the rest of the flock is they are on medicated starter crumbles and I don't want the older ones to eat this.
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jungle
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jungle on Nov 4, 2009 16:13:02 GMT 8
Weve got nine clucky hens, six with eggs, three without. Its about to get crazy with fluffy chicks!!!
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Post by lakelands on Nov 5, 2009 12:20:49 GMT 8
same at my place at the moment I have 7 hens in various stages of sitting and hatching. They are all in pens with other chooks of the same breed but no to cluckies in the same pen. . I am with Fluffy and try to keep the mums with chicks seperate if I can from the other older chooks because of the food issue and tend to lock the mums and littlies in the pens during the day and let the rest out to free range. Where I do have older birds in the same pen I put seperate feeders but they still share the food so I don't keep the eggs from the hens in these pens jsut in case.
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