Adding new chicks

[Adrienne-m]

It has happened, but it's unlikely.

The air temp must be over 100F for three weeks straight. An embryo can only develop when the egg reaches this temp and is sustained for three weeks. But unless the humidity is also high, chicks won't properly hatch. The heat and humidity under a broody hen is perfect for hatching eggs.

Humidity we definitely have. One of the girls seems to be thinking about sitting on her most recent eggs...she buries them under the pine shavings and tucks them up under her but doesn’t seem to actually sit on them. We have to put the rooster down Thursday so we are hoping some of the upcoming eggs are fertile and will get hatched

 

[IamRainey]

What worked for me was to put a wire dog kennel inside my run with the adult birds. I fitted my kennel with some roosting bars -- sturdy sticks affixed to the sides of the kennel with nylon zip ties.

The chicks can go out into the run when they're feathered out and can take whatever climate you live in.

I gave my chicks their own feed and water inside their protected space in proximity to the rest of the flock. I fed the adults right next to the kennel so they got used to one another and no one's food source was threatened. Same with treats. Right next to the kennel with some of it dropped inside for the chicks.

When they got older and more sturdy, I opened the door of the kennel so they could go in and out as they chose. They continued to roost in their kennel at night for quite a long time. No worry! If the run is predator proof, as it should be, they're perfectly safe inside it.

At some point, I removed the kennel. They followed the others up the ladder to the coop but found their own spot in a corner on the floor of the coop to huddle together. They'll do that until they're ready to engage in the struggle to make their spot on the roosting bars. That's OK. In their time they'll all work it out. That's what's called the "pecking order" and it's just inevitable.

 

[IamRainey]

Humidity we definitely have. One of the girls seems to be thinking about sitting on her most recent eggs...she buries them under the pine shavings and tucks them up under her but doesn’t seem to actually sit on them. We have to put the rooster down Thursday so we are hoping some of the upcoming eggs are fertile and will get hatched

Hatching is a wonderful experience for kids!

Unless your hen is broody -- you'll know in a few days if she won't get off her nest -- I wouldn't leave it to chance. I'd get or borrow an incubator. Of course, you have to consider that, statistically, every other chick that hatches will be male.

That's not a bad thing if you're ready for a new rooster. Just watch him as he grows and At. The. First. Sign. of ageression, take it in hand. People here will help with that when and IF the time comes. Just be forewarned that you want to deal with in immediately.

I have the offspring of an aggressive rooster who showed aggression and this time (his dad had to be put down) I started dealing with it from the very start and now have a well mannered guy who will let me pick up the hens right in front of him.