- Jan 19, 2014
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Today my incubator eggs are starting to hatch. I am not expecting a big hatch - 10 chicks max, but I suspect a couple will not make it.
It just so happens one of my young hens (a 9 month old Giant Cochin) appears to be going broody. She's been sitting quite a bit in the nesting box, and staying there at night - but is not quite as dedicated to the nest as my last broody hen was. I know her breed is suppose to make good mothers, but I am wondering if she is just too young to be broody (she only recently started laying).
Anyway, I am interested in seeing if she will mother the incubator chicks. The baby chicks are currently pipping, so I have left them in the incubator. The hen is in the coop in her nesting box. She is sitting on a couple of eggs (from today). my husband put up a guard on her nesting box to keep her in and the other hens out. There is a little food and water for her so she does not need to leave.
We are expecting a couple chicks tonight. Our plan was to put a couple chicks underneath her and take away her eggs and pray for the best in the morning. Our hatch will likely complete tomorrow afternoon. I thought we would keep the incubator eggs in the incubator until hatched. If she accepts chicks tonight, we may be able to add the rest tomorrow night. If she does not take them, we could keep and raise the other chicks ourselves.
Has anyone done this before? Any suggestions/advice? We can just raise the chicks ourselves - but if we have a potential mother, it could be a win-win for all!
It just so happens one of my young hens (a 9 month old Giant Cochin) appears to be going broody. She's been sitting quite a bit in the nesting box, and staying there at night - but is not quite as dedicated to the nest as my last broody hen was. I know her breed is suppose to make good mothers, but I am wondering if she is just too young to be broody (she only recently started laying).
Anyway, I am interested in seeing if she will mother the incubator chicks. The baby chicks are currently pipping, so I have left them in the incubator. The hen is in the coop in her nesting box. She is sitting on a couple of eggs (from today). my husband put up a guard on her nesting box to keep her in and the other hens out. There is a little food and water for her so she does not need to leave.
We are expecting a couple chicks tonight. Our plan was to put a couple chicks underneath her and take away her eggs and pray for the best in the morning. Our hatch will likely complete tomorrow afternoon. I thought we would keep the incubator eggs in the incubator until hatched. If she accepts chicks tonight, we may be able to add the rest tomorrow night. If she does not take them, we could keep and raise the other chicks ourselves.
Has anyone done this before? Any suggestions/advice? We can just raise the chicks ourselves - but if we have a potential mother, it could be a win-win for all!