Broody hen hatching eggs

[MillietheHen]

This will be my final update on my broody hen until her eggs hatch. I’m not exactly sure when she started incubating the eggs but I think they’ll hatch this weekend or early next week! I candled her 12 eggs today and 10 definitely had a chick in them! The eggs were filled up by the chick inside so they must be getting close to hatch day. I’m preparing a brooder tonight because it’s fairly cold here so I wasn’t planning on letting my hen keep them outside with her. I think I’m prepared and everything seems fine with the eggs. Any last minute things I should know or do?

 

[CluckerFamily]

How cold is it where you are at?

 

[MillietheHen]

How cold is it where you are at?

It’s getting into the 20s at night and during the day it hasn’t been above 55. Would the chicks be ok if they stayed with mom? I’m new to this so I wasn’t sure. I did put a heat lamp outside for my hen at night because she’s lost some weight during incubation and I was worried about her staying warm. But she’s been keeping the eggs warm.

 

[Ann With A Plan]

It’s getting into the 20s at night and during the day it hasn’t been above 55. Would the chicks be ok if they stayed with mom? I’m new to this so I wasn’t sure. I did put a heat lamp outside for my hen at night because she’s lost some weight during incubation and I was worried about her staying warm. But she’s been keeping the eggs warm.

Can you put a little dish of water and food next to her?

 

[CluckerFamily]

It’s getting into the 20s at night and during the day it hasn’t been above 55. Would the chicks be ok if they stayed with mom? I’m new to this so I wasn’t sure. I did put a heat lamp outside for my hen at night because she’s lost some weight during incubation and I was worried about her staying warm. But she’s been keeping the eggs warm.

I do think she will be okay, especially if she is out of the way of drafts. You may want to make a chicken wire barrier or have mom and babies in a crate with their own food and water.
Moving the food closer to mom was a good idea.
I normally either use a crate or use a chicken wire wall I made to allow mom and babies their own area but still part of the flock but the flock can't get to them.

 

[MillietheHen]

Can you put a little dish of water and food next to her?

Can you put a little dish of water and food next to her?

Yes I have both next to her and I’ve been giving her extra treats to try to get some more weight on her. She not severely skinny just more then I’d prefer for the temperature outside

 

[CluckerFamily]

I would just give her feed, no treats, to build up her nutrients.

 

[Ann With A Plan]

Yes I have both next to her and I’ve been giving her extra treats to try to get some more weight on her. She not severely skinny just more then I’d prefer for the temperature outside

Maybe some warm food? Sometimes I'll give them their pellets in warm water. They really like that when it's cold. I'm still new at this, just doing things that others have done.

 

[MillietheHen]

I do think she will be okay, especially if she is out of the way of drafts. You may want to make a chicken wire barrier or have mom and babies in a crate with their own food and water.
Moving the food closer to mom was a good idea.
I normally either use a crate or use a chicken wire wall I made to allow mom and babies their own area but still part of the flock but the flock can't get to them.

Ok thanks! She currently has her own little place for her nest. It’s blocked off from the other nesting boxes and the other chickens can’t get in so she should be good.

 

[MillietheHen]

I would just give her feed, no treats, to build up her nutrients.

Ok. She’s mainly had feed. I’ve just added some scrambled egg as a extra treat because someone suggested that.