JavelinaFarms
In the Brooder
- Jun 29, 2016
- 8
- 2
- 14
Ok, so this was our first time naturally hatching chicks and we are having some problems.
We were not really intending on hatching out chicks, but our hen kept going broody and we eventually had problems taking her eggs away, she got VERY aggressive. So, we thought "why not" and let her keep them. Well now we are having several issues.
First, the other hens kept laying on the broody hen, we weren't really aware of this as almost all of our chickens are young, this is their first season. So the eggs are a variety of ages. We keep trying to keep the others from laying in there with the broody, but they aren't having it. We have 3 chicks so far, how long do we keep trying to let the others hatch out? I know you aren't supposed to move them too much, so I have only candled a couple and they seem to be developed/developing. How do I tell when they are duds?
Second, the chicks are a couple days old now, the first 2 are 3 days, the last chick is 2 days. they are wandering around and exploring so Mama keeps running after them. We have another hen that has gone broody and now she is sitting on Mama's clutch. Is this a problem? Should I take the eggs away? Mama wont stay on them, so they wont finish incubating under her, but I am worried that if they don't hatch that the other hen will just keep sitting. Help! This has turned into quite the disaster.
We were not really intending on hatching out chicks, but our hen kept going broody and we eventually had problems taking her eggs away, she got VERY aggressive. So, we thought "why not" and let her keep them. Well now we are having several issues.
First, the other hens kept laying on the broody hen, we weren't really aware of this as almost all of our chickens are young, this is their first season. So the eggs are a variety of ages. We keep trying to keep the others from laying in there with the broody, but they aren't having it. We have 3 chicks so far, how long do we keep trying to let the others hatch out? I know you aren't supposed to move them too much, so I have only candled a couple and they seem to be developed/developing. How do I tell when they are duds?
Second, the chicks are a couple days old now, the first 2 are 3 days, the last chick is 2 days. they are wandering around and exploring so Mama keeps running after them. We have another hen that has gone broody and now she is sitting on Mama's clutch. Is this a problem? Should I take the eggs away? Mama wont stay on them, so they wont finish incubating under her, but I am worried that if they don't hatch that the other hen will just keep sitting. Help! This has turned into quite the disaster.