Tiegrsi
Songster
Not sure if this is the right forum...I tried looking for posts about broodies and they seemed kind of randomly placed.
I have a hen that went broody, and for a couple of days I was collecting the eggs anyway because she was sitting in the "preferred" box and the others would sit on top of her and lay. Also, I was getting ready to put eggs in the incubator so I figured I didn't need a broody, but she continued to set.
When I put eggs in the bator, I had too many, so I figured since she was still sitting, I'd give her the extras. She switched boxes, though, and since I'm a newbie with brooding, I just stuck the eggs under her in the new location.
Problem is, she's in a box that's above another. When the chicks hatch, I'm afraid they might fall out! She's also in a coop with several other birds and 2 cockerels, and I'm worried about the babies' safety there, too. I have an emergency coop I built last year in my barn to keep the birds in during a hurricane, which is big enough for her and the chicks to stay in for quite some time after hatch. It would also be easier to keep feed and water close to her while she is sitting in that coop, and I can put a heat lamp on it for the chicks if need be. Should I move her and the eggs there? Or should I wait until they've hatched and hope I'm home so I can move the chicks quickly?
TIA!
I have a hen that went broody, and for a couple of days I was collecting the eggs anyway because she was sitting in the "preferred" box and the others would sit on top of her and lay. Also, I was getting ready to put eggs in the incubator so I figured I didn't need a broody, but she continued to set.
When I put eggs in the bator, I had too many, so I figured since she was still sitting, I'd give her the extras. She switched boxes, though, and since I'm a newbie with brooding, I just stuck the eggs under her in the new location.
Problem is, she's in a box that's above another. When the chicks hatch, I'm afraid they might fall out! She's also in a coop with several other birds and 2 cockerels, and I'm worried about the babies' safety there, too. I have an emergency coop I built last year in my barn to keep the birds in during a hurricane, which is big enough for her and the chicks to stay in for quite some time after hatch. It would also be easier to keep feed and water close to her while she is sitting in that coop, and I can put a heat lamp on it for the chicks if need be. Should I move her and the eggs there? Or should I wait until they've hatched and hope I'm home so I can move the chicks quickly?
TIA!