Brood is hatching!

[kentuckyjeff]

We have two broody hens who have been sitting for 21 days. They are pinned off to themselves in a quiet corner of the chicken house. They have their own food and water. The first chick hatched last night. Now what do I do? The plan is to give that nest till tomorrow then we will clear her nest box. Make sure their is access to shallow chick water and chick feed as well as mom feed. Do I need to install a lamp? Do I leave mom in with the chicks? Will this disturb the other broody hen who is still setting? I feel so unprapaired. I love my chickens and am so happy to have chicks. I'm just freaked out.
Thanks,
Amy

 

[CorinneP]

I would not remove any eggs Momma will get up and walk away when she feels there isn't any chance.( you could make her nervous and might have different hatch dates ). She will keep them warm. Broody Hens are very good at Hatching and taking care of their newly hatched Chicks. My advice is to sit back and let Momma do her job and enjoy ! It is sooo adorable to watch them peeking out of a wing or climbing on her back.. Just provide Chick starter . maybe some marbles in the drinking water she will show them how to eat and keep them warm .. I did provide a light in a large brooding pen that she seemed to like to keep them cuddled by when it was colder .. But I doubt I needed it.. Don't think they did that in the Pioneer days .. momma hen would just cuddle them in a sheltered area and keep them close under her.. ENJOY !

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I agree with op good advise. The first time I had a broody I had no idea, so i left her alone, the eggs kept hatching over 2 to 3 days. Then she got off the nest and made a new nest nearby, when she started kicking the old nest apart, I finally got the message-oh, maybe I should clear that out before you break one of those failed eggs...
No need for heat, it might actually be too much. Just clean water and chick started and maybe a little pan of dirt.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh and I wouldn't separate the hens necessarily or it will be really tough to get them back together with two groups of chicks....like I have now, they keep swapping chicks so that's a good thing.

 

[kentuckyjeff]

Thanks for the answers. It so great to watch, the first little chick is peaking it's head out. So cute. So I feel more calm about the situation. How long will I leave them in this pin?

 

[sunflowerfarms]

Will they really stay on the eggs for a few days? I have a broody hen who is sitting on the eggs and a few chicks hatched out yesterday, but Im afraid that she will get off the other eggs that have chicks trapped inside. I have to go to work in an hour, so I am afraid to leave them, but all I have is a heat lamp-not an incubator so I dont necessarily want to do that either.