The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Rosemary on April 09, 2013, 01:44:07 pm
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Had a broody hatch 3 chicks today, with a further 3 dead that she has squished.
I think the broody coop is too small but I also wondered how many eggs a broody should be given. I gave her about 9 or 10 but maybe this is too many?
Can anyone help?
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Depends on the size of the broody and the size of the eggs. I generally give large, soft-feathered fowl around 9 but prefer not to use the standard triangle shaped broody coop. In the past I've rigged up everything from a calf-dehorning crate to a water tank as a broody coop. I also use shavings as bedding with just a few wisps of straw for her to arrange as a nest - chicks can easily get tangled up in a forest of bedding in a small space.
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That sounds about right, but it depends on the size of the egg and the size of the hen. I would give my bantam Australorps about 5 or 6 normal sized hens eggs and up to 12 normal eggs for a normal sized hen. She's maybe been a bit clumsy when turning the eggs - is she a new mum?
(cross posted with Marches Farmer! Great mind sand all that :thumbsup: )