Mar 26 2009
Nesting Hens
Spring is definitely in the air!! I found one of my hens nesting on a clutch of eggs. I love having a chicken flock that is relatively self-sustaining. I don’t have many hens that will nest however and so this year I’m planning on purchasing some more hens who are well known to become broody (make great nesting hens).
I’m going to get several standard cochin pullets this year. The Cochins are not well known for laying eggs for a sustained time, but they are well know for nesting and being good mother hens. I can use the Cochin hens to nest the eggs from my egg layers who don’t like to nest. Cochins will also nest on other kings of eggs like turkey eggs or duck eggs etc. Keeping a few nesting hens around will help keep my chicken flock self-sustaining and I will not have to keep buying chicks to replace aging hens.
I’ve got a small flock of Rhode Island Reds and they have been laying great until this past week. Apparently, they don’t like all the rain either. Chickens are great, aren’t they! I wish I could let mine out to run wild in the yard, but the dog wouldn’t allow that. They love clover (which I have an abundance of this year) and jump for joy when I throw a handful of the green stuff in the coop. Enjoy your chickens!!