Broody hen thread

[Duckling and Spider]

Stupid question but chickens can sit on turkey eggs!?

Not stupid at all!
The only "bad idea" is a duck on anything else. Duck eggs don't need a duck, but the extra humidity (wet duck!) from a duck is harmful to other birds.

 

[kdogg331]

Yep! Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch as apposed to 21 for chickens but the temps and humidity are the same. This is a first time for me but I've read of other's success with chickens hatching turkeys.

Not stupid at all!
The only "bad idea" is a duck on anything else. Duck eggs don't need a duck, but the extra humidity (wet duck!) from a duck is harmful to other birds.

Wow I had no idea! And I'm so dumb I didn't even think of humidity.

I was thinking turkey eggs are rather large, correct? Or not?

 

[kdogg331]

But I can't wait till they hatch!

 

[micah wotring]

Wow I had no idea! And I'm so dumb I didn't even think of humidity.

I was thinking turkey eggs are rather large, correct? Or not?

No! Just that your talent is somewhere else. Example: I know NOTHING about art and music and such.

They are but a chicken can handle it. (unless of course, you put like TONS of eggs under her) In fact, my broody is a bantam! I think there's five under her.

 

[kdogg331]

No! Just that your talent is somewhere else. Example: I know NOTHING about art and music and such.

They are but a chicken can handle it. (unless of course, you put like TONS of eggs under her) In fact, my broody is a bantam! I think there's five under her.

Thanks

And wow really!? That's even more impressive!

 

[micah wotring]

Thanks

And wow really!? That's even more impressive!

Yep! Started with 7 but one of the ducks got in there with her and smashed a couple.

 

[kdogg331]

Yep! Started with 7 but one of the ducks got in there with her and smashed a couple.

Aw that stinks. I had no idea any chicken, let alone a bantam, could sit on that many turkey eggs!

 

[Duckling and Spider]

Aw that stinks. I had no idea any chicken, let alone a bantam, could sit on that many turkey eggs!

The recipe is to fill the broody up with eggs (under her! Not in her!) until she can't take anymore. Then remove one.

 

[kdogg331]

The recipe is to fill the broody up with eggs (under her! Not in her!) until she can't take anymore. Then remove one.

That's a good recipe.

I'll keep that in mind for if/when I let mine hatch.

So since I don't have rooster, is it better to order/buy/find friends to donate hatching eggs to under her and let her hatch them or buy chicks and attempt to put them under her and let her raise them?

I'm debating either because I wanted to order 3 or 4 more chicks from Meyer eventually or buy some my local feed store for specific breeds (although the feed store doesn't have every breed obviously and min of 3 from the same ship date) but then I also really want to try my hand at hatching and letting her hatch the littles herself. But then the problem with that is not every breeder has every breed so I'd be limited to one or two breeds and a half doz or one doz eggs OR an assortment of breeds/barnyard mixes. So it's a tough decision hah

But the hatchery is probably sold out by now.

And with my luck, she won't be broody when I want her to be lol

 

[Duckling and Spider]

The less time in transport, the better. The hen isn't likely to take chicks until she's been broody at least two weeks.
The hatcheries have chicks/eggs through the summer. Then they just cut back.