April 2023 Hatch-A-Long

[Waterfaery]

My hen that I thought might be broody is definitely broody! She only left the nest for 15 minutes this morning and again for about 10 minutes this evening.

My cockerel spent a lot of today sitting in the nest with her! Sure, he does have limited mobility and the weather was horrendous today, but still, I think I think he's doing it because he loves her. It's amazing and so sweet to see him keeping her company like that and standing guard. Here they are together.

I really don't know what to do with her. The nest box is upstairs in a coop with a steep ramp and there are 5 Australorp hens in there with them. It's not ideal for chicks. Also, I think my cockerel could do without the trouble of going up and down the ramp anyway so I was thinking about building them a new, separate, low down coop with a special nesting area but I'm scared to move her in case I break her. I know so many of you have been successful with broodies. Have you any advice?

 

[Honora]

My hen that I thought might be broody is definitely broody! She only left the nest for 15 minutes this morning and again for about 10 minutes this evening.

My cockerel spent a lot of today sitting in the nest with her! Sure, he does have limited mobility and the weather was horrendous today, but still, I think I think he's doing it because he loves her. It's amazing and so sweet to see him keeping her company like that and standing guard. Here they are together.

View attachment 3465000

I really don't know what to do with her. The nest box is upstairs in a coop with a steep ramp and there are 5 Australorp hens in there with them. It's not ideal for chicks. Also, I think my cockerel could do without the trouble of going up and down the ramp anyway so I was thinking about building them a new, separate, low down coop with a special nesting area but I'm scared to move her in case I break her. I know so many of you have been successful with broodies. Have you any advice?

Aw, what a sweet boyI like to wait until hatch and then move the hen along with the chicks to a safer area. I have not had much success with moving them while broody. Are you going to give her some eggs?

 

[Kikilu]

Any update on the eggs?

I’m going to candle tonight since it’s day 7 but only one Ameraucana looked strong. 3 others maybe some action but honestly not many looking good
We will see what tonight brings and I will update.

 

[Kikilu]

I just loveee mixes this is my favorite from last year.. so she is mix of few breeds ..
And she is Broody now.Her name is Anne Boleyn. And yes all my 40 chickens have name!

Love her colors!

 

[Waterfaery]

Aw, what a sweet boyI like to wait until hatch and then move the hen along with the chicks to a safer area. I have not had much success with moving them while broody. Are you going to give her some eggs?

Well she has some eggs but I doubt many of them are fertile. They are just what's been laid in the coop the last couple of days. I could leave her to try with them and see. I could give her some other eggs or else give her some of the chicks that hatch next week. Have you ever given a hen chicks like that? I'm not quite sure how it works or if it's a good idea, especially with a first time mama hen.

 

[Honora]

Well she has some eggs but I doubt many of them are fertile. They are just what's been laid in the coop the last couple of days. I could leave her to try with them and see. I could give her some other eggs or else give her some of the chicks that hatch next week. Have you ever given a hen chicks like that? I'm not quite sure how it works or if it's a good idea, especially with a first time mama hen.

I have given chicks to a hen but if she hasn’t been sitting very long she might not accept them. I would start collecting eggs to give her, then when you have enough, throw out the ones she is sitting on and give her the new ones. Mark the eggs you give her and remove any others that get laid in the coop.

 

[lilwanderer]

Last night we helped a silkie bantam egg hatch by peeling the shell, woke up this morning the chick was still in the shell, stuck. We took it out but left the egg attached hoping it'd kick free eventually, the chick seemed like any other baby bird when it first hatches, but we came home that afternoon, chick had died. Not sure what the problem was but we saw some blood, maybe it just wasn't ready.
The other one is fine, very cute little chick:

The last remaining three, 2 are chirping and 1 has hatched:

 

[Kikilu]

shipped egg update on day 7

My Ameraucana eggg I thought looked strong now appears muddled and veins gravitating towards the top. I’m going to guess I’ll see a blood ring in the next couple days. 2 other Ameraucana clear as a sunny day (or egg for that matter)
I think I have 5 that are showing signs of development. I can see a spot 3 are dark eggs the rest beige but some with a bloom that feels thick.
Soooo at this point I’m guessing 5 might be good on day 7 out of the 12.
I’m no expert but I think this will be a sub par hatch.

 

[lilwanderer]

All remaining babies are out! but one we had to help as we noticed a scissor beak, once we dug in further, chick has a deformed skull and one eye. I read that sometimes when this happens they either don't survive, their remaining eye is blind, or they can see in the one eye and make it. Yet to tell if this chick can see yet though.

 

[Nomadicus]

All remaining babies are out! but one we had to help as we noticed a scissor beak, once we dug in further, chick has a deformed skull and one eye. I read that sometimes when this happens they either don't survive, their remaining eye is blind, or they can see in the one eye and make it. Yet to tell if this chick can see yet though.

I have a pet scissor beak that is blind in one eye. First ever for me. She loves me and comes to me where ever I am and waits for me to pick her up. It saddens me so much there is no cure for her. Eventually I'll have a little pen of misfits to care for. I may be a commercial operation but I have a big heart for the imperfect little ones.