Rory4 267 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 i am after a broody hen to sit on some eggs. any breed better than the rest? also wheres best place to buy an incubator? cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
salclalin 240 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Light Sussex mate.(That's all i use). As for incubators try Ebay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Garypco 2 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 In my book light sussex x silkie is the best broody . but its all down to personal experience and the bird itself. silkies sussex wyandottes pekins cochins all make fantastic broodies. as for incubators try ebay you'll get all sorts there big small second hand new. silky cross anything really i always liked a silky cross old english game hen!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 1,784 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Apparently bantams make better broodies than large fowl. However, I've kept several bantams for the last few years and only one was consistantly broody (annoyingly so). She was a silver pencilled wyandotte. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samba 534 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 ive just got some silkyx lightsussex for next yr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
robinmcleod2 0 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 any silki cross does the job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john hubery 9 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Silky cross light susex banties make exellent broodies when I need on all I do is leave the eggs in the boxes for a couple of days and in no time the boxes are full of broodies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,415 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Everyone seems to agree on the Silkie Sussex cross. The Silkie being a great mother but crossed with the Sussex gives a bigger hen thus covering more eggs. Bantams tend to only cover a few eggs. Personally I like a game hen as they can make a very aggressive ,protective mother. Handy if you've vermin around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Teesdale-rabbiter 15 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 light susex banties have allways done the job for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rory4 267 Posted June 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 day after started this topic my big fat orpington went broody, only left eggs in nest box few hours longer than normal. she still on them now, wasnt impressed with me trying get her up for drink etc. then two days later black rock went broody but ones enough so took her eggs she was sat on now she back to laying. chicks due on my birthday. read 21 days does it differ alot? will be my first chicks if goes to plan so am complete novice. any help welcome Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny Vegas 1 1 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Everyone seems to agree on the Silkie Sussex cross. The Silkie being a great mother but crossed with the Sussex gives a bigger hen thus covering more eggs. Bantams tend to only cover a few eggs.Personally I like a game hen as they can make a very aggressive ,protective mother. Handy if you've vermin around. crossing with a sussex also gives the feather because chicks can get caught up in silkie feathers. just bought 6 eggs off ebay 2 of my old english gone broody,misses wont have a cockrel in garden feel sorry for them when i take the eggs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rory4 267 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 the eggs my hen sat on are due this fri. been in run and got her nest box. whats there for me to do when eggs hatch except feed? do i need chick crumbs etc? the moveable run is on grass do i need cut the grass short before chicks hatch? cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spanj 11 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 i am after a broody hen to sit on some eggs. any breed better than the rest? also wheres best place to buy an incubator? cheers Without a doubt bantam silkies although our wyandottes are nearly always broody !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 the eggs my hen sat on are due this fri. been in run and got her nest box. whats there for me to do when eggs hatch except feed? do i need chick crumbs etc? the moveable run is on grass do i need cut the grass short before chicks hatch? cheers Yes you will need chick crumb, and a low saucer or specific water drinker for chicks... they can drown in a recepticle too deep so be carefull... Dont have to cut the grass, but have you got a botton on your run? ie mesh/wire, as you might loose your chicks to weasel/stoat or rat...... Good luck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dabhand 887 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 i was told the other day that if you put a buff silkie cock on a Sussex hen all the buff chicks are hens and all the whites are cocks? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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