Broody hen...

[theironduke]

I've got a few hens and cockerel. One of the hens is the same breed as the cockerel (Sussex) and has gone broody.... I never really considered chicks but now considering it.

I haven't got an incubator so if I just leave her to it and some do hatch, what's the done thing? Do you take them out of the main coup with the adult birds and keep them under heat lamps for as long as required and then re-introduce when they are old enough?

[S6 Devil]

I'm just setting up a run and coop for some bantams. I can't answer your question but have found the poultry keeper forums very informative.
http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewforum.php...

[bint]

We had bantams when I was growing up an never had an incubator. Just ensured the hens were kept warm and dry and let nature take its course.

However, if there are any old wives takes about how to get females over males born, try it as we had 5 cocks and 3 hens hatch once!

[tenex]

My chickens had two broods of 12 last summer, both away in the bushes.
One brood 10 hens and 2 cocks, the other 6 and 6.
Here's one of them.




Proud Mum by tenex 100, on Flickr


Just leave Mum to her own devices. No need for heat-lamps etc. Mum will stay away from the rest and will probably attack if another hen strays too close. Mum will decide when she is ready to return to the flock. The chicks will then get hen-pecked (sometimes quite viciously) until a new order is established.

Let nature take it's course.