henry_o Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Hi guys, Does anyone have much experience of rearing game/ducks under banties? Any horror stories? Do you find they tend to hold better if reared this way? I've generally reared under lamps, not on a big scale, just 2-300 pheasants but as I become busier running my farm I wondered if the broodies might do the job for me and then I can make up the difference in numbers buying in a few poults. would it save me any money in the long run? I can get discounted feed this year from a farming friend who has chickens. Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 We buy ex-layers for our rough shoot and they lay dozens and dozens of eggs which we give to the landowners Mum who keeps chickens. We bought her a small Brinsea incubator as her broody hens couldn't cope with the numbers we were getting, but the chicks raised under the broodies work out fine. I couldn't say if they hold any better really though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I know about wearing under panties if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted February 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Thanks scully. There's no real big downside then such as disease being transferred from hens to the pheasants? Thank you Felly! I'm sure you're very proficient at wearing them! Ha Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Used to do it a lot when I was s teenager! No real problems and so much easier for small batches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thanks scully. There's no real big downside then such as disease being transferred from hens to the pheasants?None that we have ever become aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerkev09 Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I rear a few hundred English under banties they are brilliant I use light Sussex cross silkies I put the broody in the release pen and she calls them back I am a big believer of them but am stuck in the old ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted February 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 They were all brooded by bantams in the old days, in much greater nos that are reared today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Does anyone know of any good either poultry books that talk about working wi broodies (completely new to poultry althou reared plenty of pheas/duck in modern huts) or old fashioned keepering books that talk about it when keepers had hundreds of broodies. Hopefully for season after this i should be able to have a go at it for both Greys and mibee pheasant. Also is there any way to get ur banties to 'go on cluck' say u had 100 eggs arriving on a certain day can u guarrantee u would have some ready for the eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerkev09 Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Run your own shoot by David Hudson has some good articles in about broodys and there is another book but off top of my head I can't remember Al have a look for it. If you wanting to get them to sit get a card board box cut slits in one side just enough so ventilation put some straw in and 12 hard boiled eggs or golf balls put her in and leave her 12 hour then take her off to have a drink and feed and muck out then place bak on the nest she will be sitting by the 5 day it's all in David Hudson book it's worked or me I have loads of broodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Spot on cheers kev. Like i said absolutely zero experience with poultry other than game. As it turns out David Hudson lives just a few miles away, i dinae kactually know him but pick up with his shoot captain so will make sure we meet up some time. Funny enough i was reading 1 of his shooting books and seen some photos o folk i knew and then towards the end seen 2 mates in it when they were young boys, couldnae figure it out until i realised he lived local, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Silky bantams or silky crosses are definatley the best boodies. When I bred chickens they spent half their lives egg sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Another vote here for the silky Excellent mothers and big enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerkev09 Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Small world. I would love to have a pint with him after a days shoot he sure knows his stuff atb kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d9/loriusgarrulus/JT.jpg This is Tufty a Silky cross Buff Sussex. She wasn't going going to leave her eggs even if squatters had moved in next door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy bingo Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 banty,s make cracking mothers mate and there,s nothing nicer than a free range banty egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.