broody eggs

[ericmcginn5]

So I should be worried that I havent heared it?

 

[Stiggy]

If there under the hen then let her do what nature intended, she should keep them moist. If not then get a clean spray bottle and warm water and lightly mist them a few times a day so that they don't dry out

 

[ericmcginn5]

Ok I will and they are under the hen

 

[Stiggy]

Ok, well if they seem dry when you check her then spray them, but really its up to the chick now

 

[ericmcginn5]

Ok I heared some twitting with 8 eggs how many you think will hatch

 

[Stiggy]

Maybe all of them, I think you will prob get 6/7 live chicks since not everyone survives though you may get lucky and they might all hatch

 

[ericmcginn5]

Ok ty I will cross my finger there is one that is alive tho. One more question should I leave the chicks with the mother or take care of them myself. If they are with the mother they will also be with 6 other hens

 

[Stiggy]

If you cannot have the mother in a separate area with the babies then you should raise them. The other hens can get jealous and can accidentally kill them by stepping on them or purposely kill them. That being said if you take on the responsibility of these chicks you will have to see it through till they are old enough to go outside with the hens

 

[Wanex]

No!! take them out, put the hen and the chicks in another place since the other hens might be curious or even mean to the new born chicks and they might kill them. Put the momma hen and the chicks together and provide them with water and chicken starter food. Be careful that the containers in which you the food for them are not too big and heavy since small chickens tend to die when they get trapped in them.

 

[bobbi-j]

There are a lot of experienced chicken keepers who keep their mother hens and babies with the flock. It makes integration so much easier as the mama will protect the babies from the other hens right now. The other hens will learn to leave them alone as they learn flock etiquette. Also, if something happens to the hen (as did mine when the chicks were about 3 weeks old) they will already be accepted by the flock. If you have plenty of room, they should be just fine. With my first batch this year, when I put them together, the boss hen tried to go after my broody and the rooster got between them and protected mama and babies. My chicks are fed in a big black rubber feed pan. They can hop in and out with no problems. They are 2 weeks old and drinking out of the big galvanized waterer with the rest of the flock. This current batch is eating broiler/finisher feed and getting along quite nicely.

Personally, I believe hen-raised chicks are healthier and get along better than brooder-raised chicks.