07/19/2026
I have a few things I've been doing.
1: I moved a very broody hen into a kennel and put what I hoped were 14 fertile eggs. After 3 weeks, only 5 were left. We were afraid she was eating them so we moved her to a cleaner kennel (after 3 weeks, it really needed a clean out. When we moved to remaining eggs over to her, one of them burst. It was grossly rotten and I'm afraid none of them were viable. Funny thing is, I accidentally left the kennel unlocked and she moved herself into my young chicken run with chicks that are about 2 months old and adopted them! I didn't know hens could impress on chicks so old. She's taking good care of them.
2: we have 3 very broody hens. 2, we let sit on eggs and 1 we gather from every day. She bites so bad and is super protective and would not get out of being broody. We bought 9 chicks with the hopes of putting 3 under each chicken. Unfortunately, the 2 that were laying on eggs wanted nothing to do with the chicks (we took the eggs away and then gave them back). But the third without eggs immediately afopted them. Yesterday, she stayed in the nest with them and today, she's walking around the barn and is extremely protective. 2 happy mamma chickens. Hopefully our other two will hatch their eggs and be happy mammas too.
