07/08/2026
We breed Buff Orpingtons and we love that our hens incubate hatch and raise chicks for us.
However at this time of year, we feel it's too late to hatch chicks when they won't mature before mid winterso we break their brood.
There are 3 methods to break a brood, a fast, a slow and a midway. It's entirely up to you which method is suitable for you and your environment.
As this video explains, we're not fans of the slow method as it can compromise the condition and health of our hens. We also prefer to avoid the fast method, which does work extremely well, but it relies on our hens being uncomfortable. Our chosen route is the midway method. It mimics a natural scenario but has reliably broken the brood of our hens within 10 days.
That's how we approach it and what works for our hens, but you might find one of the other methods work for you much better. There are no wrong answers!
