How many can she handle? (Broody raising free range meat birds)

[big brown horse]

My buff O. is broody again and I want to stick some day old meat bird chicks under her. How many do you think she can keep warm/take care of? (Please say 25! I don't want to raise/babysit the chicks if I don't have to. ) This sweet chicken has already hatched and raised 4 rouen ducklings...she is my incubator.

 

[TanksHill]

hummm................. how about 25?

 

[big brown horse]

Thanks!



Really?

 

[TanksHill]

No, I have no idea. I know when Bee ran a thread over at BYC she had a broody raise her meaties. Not sure how many though.

How many is max on chicken eggs usually?

25 might be a lot but I am sure she would do her best.

g

 

[big brown horse]

Yeah I remember she had a hen raise her meaties, just don't remember how many. I know this particular chicken will raise anything I put under her without rejecting them, she is that type of mother. She isn't going to have to hatch the eggs, just babysit. Maybe for the first week I should keep a warming light in the pen in case she can't 'top' all the chicks?

 

[TanksHill]

I have the link to Bee's thread saved but for some reason I can't get it to open. I will try again in a bit.

The light sounds like a good idea.

g

 

[Wannabefree]

A Buff Orp will likely TRY all 25! Dunno if that'd work though. It's probably a few too many

 

[big brown horse]

Ok, thank you.

I think the light will keep her up, so maybe it isn't a good idea. :/

 

[big brown horse]

A Buff Orp will likely TRY all 25! Dunno if that'd work though. It's probably a few too many

Darn!

 

[miss_thenorth]

I would do it and put in a heat lamp for back up. dont worry about it keeping ehr up, she'll be fine. It is sooooo much easier when a broody does it. i however, don't have any luck transplanting chicks under broody hens. nad my numbers are way off right now. I have 19 regular chicks and 30 meaties--only two broodies.