The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: loopy on January 12, 2010, 01:05:16 pm

Title: suitable as a broody ark??
Post by: loopy on January 12, 2010, 01:05:16 pm

Hi

I want to hatch some eggs this year, and for several reasons, i want to try this the natural way using a broody hen rather than an incubator/brooder route which would still mean having somewhere outside for them once they were feathered up.  At the moment i just have the main coop and run and so i want to buy something to use as a broody ark, to house the broody and the chicks.  Initially i am thinking about trying hubbards, as i gather they can be at a size big enough to kill at 10-12 weeks and before the cockerals start crowing. 

My question is, if i got 12 hatching eggs, (of which i doubt i would get 12 chicks)  would a omlet eglu be suitable for using as a broody ark - i presume i would need to keep the broody with the chicks until about 5 weeks old, then she could go back to the layers pen, but also assuming i would need a run extension if there are too many that hatch?   I already have an omlet cube and really like how easy they are to keep clean but want to make sure it would be suitable before i buy the eglu.

thanks Loopy

Title: Re: suitable as a broody ark??
Post by: CameronS on January 12, 2010, 07:38:52 pm

I would think an Omlet eglu would be fine, Solong as the hen feels confertable and it is vermin proof. I'm sure i have even seen kits that convert it into use as a brooder.

Mine have used a Wheelbarrow in the greenhouse in the past, it just goes to show that they addapt really well to any nest site.