The chicks have hatched and I think there are 10. I found all but 2 out of the nest with the 2 hens. unfortunately the nest is in a spot they can not get back to as it it to high. I placed the 2 with the rest and corralled then into a dog crate. I am hoping it is enough room for them to all...
Thank you for the reply. It sounds a bit to risky. The chicks are 3-4 days older and were hatched in an incubator. I think I will pass on this opportunity.
I have two hens on a nest that started hatching eggs today. I expect to have 6-8 new chicks over the next couple of days. I am considering purchasing some chicks that were hatched 3-4 days ago and introducing them to the new chicks and hens, hoping the hens will raise them. Is this a bad...
I just arrived home from a vacation and there is one baby chick that has hatched! It looks to be no more then a day/night old and is with the mother. I am very concerned that once our cat hears the chick a the hunt will begin. My only sure way to stop this would be to lock them done in a...
Thanks for the advice. I have placed the origanal brooder in her own cage area and I think by tomorrow she will be back to normal. The new brooded is on eggs that I am hoping are still alive. When I candled them they were very developed and appeared to have the air bubble on one end. If they...
The hen is very persistent. I have had to take her off the nest every time I go and check on them. I am 99% sure she has been brooding for almost 2 months now. The new broody hen seems dedicated but she keeps letting the origanal back in the nest with her. I candeld around 20 eggs and kept...
Thanks for the advice. It sounds like the best move would be to pull the origanal brooder off the nest and start afresh. I can tell the original brooder is in need of a "regular" life. She has definatley lost some weight. My only hesitation is the last time I considered doing this I believe...
Now I have two hens on the nest. One that likely has been there for over a month and another that is on day two. I'm thinking about kicking the original one off as she is probably in need of it and starting over with fresh eggs. Any ideas?
I was really hoping the broody hens would find their own space out of the coop. They free range all day and are couped just at night. At a previous home I had a similar set up and had success with hens disappearing for a few weeks then showing back up with a whole mess of chicks. Maybe my...
Thanks for the advice. The other hens continue to lay eggs in her box so I was really trying to keep that under control. I guess it will be best to just let it be and learn what I can. Thanks again
Soooo, she is still brooding but no chicks. I tried to block her off from the rest off the chickens but she got out and could not get back in. I think this may have been when the eggs stopped developing. Two days ago I disposed the obvious really old eggs and left her with 10 or so. Tonight...
This is great information! Thank you for sharing!! The flock is free range from morning till night. I close up the coop each night for their protection. It sounds like I should tack some chicken wire around her box and let things play out. She accepts the eggs that I return under her and...
Hello All
I have a hen that has been sitting on eggs for the past 2-3 weeks. I marked the eggs about a week and a half ago and some other hens have added 4 to the 6 that I marked. Now the brooding hen is starting to kick out some of the marked. Also, the nesting box is about 2 feet off of...
Thanks for the advice. We too let our birds free range but in a northern Michigan winter, they rarley leave the coup. What is DE? Our Bantam rooster is very aggresive, he has no signs of the mites and I hope it stays that way. The only bird with no signs of anything is our Beautiful Black...
Thanks again for the replies. I picked up some VetRx, red clay earth and some garden and poultry dust ( with permethrin ). The VetRx says in case of heavy scale I should rub in thoroughly all over the shanks and toes. Repeat every three days until legs are completely free of scale. Anybody...
Thanks for the reply. The missing feathers on the neck looks the same on 3-4 of the birds, including the rooster. If its not feather picking, what should I do?