All about raising chicks and chickens! Also ask questions!

[sassysarah]

 

[RowanTheRed]

A broody hen WILL hatch her egg, but she might abandon the chick when it's hatched.

okay, but the OP said that her hen had been broody for 2 weeks BEFORE she realized it and then went out and got her a dozen eggs from a friend for her hen to brood. These would not be her OWN own eggs. So my question remains if she would be able to brood for the entire duration that would be required to hatch the chicks if she was in fact already broody for the 2 weeks prior to being given eggs to sit on?

 

[sassysarah]

If the mother abandons her eggs maybe you could place them in a incubator to hatch them the rest of the way, but you would have to take care of the the chicks. If you do not have a incubator there are videos on YouTube how to make them with a hear lamp and a cooler!

 

[Blooie]

I said I wasn't going to respond but @RowanTheRed is talking about exactly what I was concerned about. She's already been broody for 2 weeks. Then figure another 3 weeks for those new eggs to hatch. That's a total of 5 weeks sitting on a nest! While she may hatch the second batch of eggs, this isn't good for her. Add the few days before the OP knew for sure she was broody, make the transfer, and allowing for the fact that not all eggs hatch on exactly that 21st day of incubation, and you're almost up to 6 weeks. They don't eat much while they are broody, they don't drink much, and they don't poop much. Basically except for bare essentials, they practically shut down. They lose weight, they lose condition, they lose feathers, and often have to be reintegrated into the flock. Then there's the added little tidbit that the new eggs might not ever hatch either, but she'll keep right on sitting.

Can it be done? Yes, it can. Should it be done? In my opinion, no, especially by someone who has no experience with broodys.

 

[Kiki]

Sometimes people feel they know the answer and sometimes people actually know the answer.
Sometimes the answer can be one of many possible answers.
Common sense is worth a million bucks in situations like this.


Just saying.

 

[Chickening101]

Daily Tasks:​

-check water and feed, refill or replace as needed
-collect eggs if they lay
-observe them, do they look healthy?

Monthly/weekly Tasks:​

-replace bedding if it's getting dirty
-clean nest boxes when it becomes soiled with poop or broken egg shells, put in new bedding material
-clean and sanitize waterers (you can do it weekly if you feel the need)

Yearly Tasks:​

-prepare for winter
-clean and sanitize whole coop (some people prefer doing this a few times a year)

Hope this helps new chicken owners!​

 

[D SCHWARTZ 26]

I just had my one Banty hatch 4 chicks a day ago. I have a heat lamp set up for them would i have to or would they be ok with out it?

 

[Chickening101]

I just had my one Banty hatch 4 chicks a day ago. I have a heat lamp set up for them would i have to or would they be ok with out it? View attachment 553728

You most certainly DO need a heat lamp, it's crucial for them.
Chicks will die without a source of heat.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any more questions!

 

[D SCHWARTZ 26]

Also how do so find a thread about Hen pecking? I have 12 hens and they are pecking my rooster and he is starting to loose feathers? Not sure what to do??

 

[Chickening101]

Also how do so find a thread about Hen pecking? I have 12 hens and they are pecking my rooster and he is starting to loose feathers? Not sure what to do??

If you want to find a thread about that, search it in the forums.