co parenting?

[Laura Hollister]

Went out last night and found I have two broody hens sharing a box! Would I be in trouble if I gave them a bunch of chicks? Would I have to separate them? (I'm not willing to- I'd rather get no chicks at all). Would they co-parent? Any thoughts?

Laura

On Fri, May 4, 2012 at 3:35 PM, Laura Hollister <slhol...@netzero.net> wrote:

You can tell. She won't leave the nesting box, and she resembles a big, poofy throw pillow with a head. (c: After she's sat for about 2 weeks or so, I put about 2 dozen day-old chicks I've gotten through the mail in with her. She can't do the math. She sat on 2-3 eggs and 24 chicks popped out. Wow! I don't go the full three weeks, because I figure she'll need the energy to take care of that many. It's worked out ok for me so far.

I do mark the eggs I let her keep. The other hens will keep adding to her nest, and you don't want to lose that many eggs. I bring in everything without an X every night.

Laura

On Fri, May 4, 2012 at 1:37 PM, Kelly Phillipson <kellyph...@gmail.com> wrote:

Oh I get it now; that's awesome!  How do you know your hen is ready to raise them and then do you get them as eggs from on-line?
Kelly

On Fri, May 4, 2012 at 4:29 AM, Laura Hollister <slhol...@netzero.net> wrote:

Meatbirds spend their entire lives based there. They free-range during the day and return to the hoop coop at night. My laying flock has an indoor coop. It's a corner of the garage that's been walled up, with a hole cut in the siding for them to go in and out. I only raise about 2 doz meatbirds at a time, and I only do it when I have a broody hen ready to raise them. Then they're truly pasture raised. She tolerates no laziness! They are off an foraging until about 9 weeks, then they start sticking close to the coop and my friend comes out and butchers them.

Laura

On Fri, May 4, 2012 at 12:16 AM, Kelly Phillipson <kellyph...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hadn't thought of that - do you keep the chickens in there at night too or do they go into a separate coop?

On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Laura Hollister <slhol...@netzero.net> wrote:

I suggest you make the hardware cloth "drape" down onto the ground. Mine makes a skirt about 8" out from the bottom, to deter digging. I know it isn't foolproof, but I haven't had a coon in it yet- though I trap them all the time and know they're around.

Laura

On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 11:22 PM, Kelly Phillipson <kellyph...@gmail.com> wrote:

This is a great description; will print it off for my husband & get him started!  Our coop is almost done!!
Thank you ;)
Kelly

On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 5:04 AM, Laura Hollister <slhol...@netzero.net> wrote:

I used a could livestock panels bent into arches and nailed to 2x4s to make a hoop coop for my meat birds. Hardware cloth around the bottom, chicken wire covered with tarp on top. I leave it open as a rain shelter for the laying flock when it isn't in use. Cheap, easy, and portable. I just move it around the back yard when the meat birds have it nastied up. I could have gone with fancy wheels, but instead I lift the corners, shove a piece of PVC under the edge and use it as a roller. 

Laura

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