Broody hen fail

[as110]

The chicks will stay under the mother for a couple of days They don't walk instantly. If you are really afraid they will fall out to the nest, tack a cardboard cover over the face of the nest just after the hatch. Prepare a place the hen can raise her babies alone for a while.

I have a place for them. That's where I wanted them to hatch. Even if they don't walk away for a few days, the other hens get into the nest as soon as she gets off. I worry about the other hens the most.

 

[as110]

I floated the eggs. All of them sank. I opened two of them thinking they were duds, and there were live chickens in both. I took them outside to quickly cool them to die. I feel terrible. I put the rest into the incubator. I will just have to see if she keeps brooding on new eggs and if she does I will sneak the chicks under her when they hatch.

I thought hatching with a broody would be easier but it isn’t because all the other hens are nasty. They keep bugging the broody, push her out of the nest and peck her when she is off.
I wasn’t planning on hatching chicks in the incubator. I suck at it and I never get enough chicks to be worth it. Smh