lol, Ok, For someone that has allowed so many broody hens to hatch chicks, you would think I would be a master by now.
I've been working to improve my methods with each hatch but I can't deny that the control I have over my incubator vs broody hens is much more comfortable for me!
So, my question, has anyone had a hen stop getting off the nest around day 17/18???
This is my first time utilizing a kennel for my broody. I will be moving her to the broody pen after the chicks have hatched but I've had too many hens freak out from being moved from the location they selected for themselves while still sitting on the eggs, so I decided that this time I would wait until we were getting close to hatch and move the hen from the nest box that the rest of the flock has access to and put her in a small kennel temporarily so the chicks would be safe from the flock while hatching.
That's where I am now (day 19)...on day 17 I replaced the nest box with the kennel and put her inside with food and water. She freaked out initially which I expected but she then settled down on her eggs. The problem is, I'm now on day 19 and I don't see where she has eaten any food or drank any water and there's no poop in there either...sooo it would appear she's not getting up to eat, drink, and poo? Should I be worried? Do I need to take her out to make sure she takes care of business? I wouldn't be so concerned if today were day 21 but I feel like if she waits until hatch day that's just too long! I'm also feeling a tad more paranoid because she's not the smartest chicken...she's a Silkie/Polish cross.
lol, I would like to think that if she gets hungry or thirsty enough she would notice the food and water right in front of her face...Thanks for any opinions!
I've been working to improve my methods with each hatch but I can't deny that the control I have over my incubator vs broody hens is much more comfortable for me!
So, my question, has anyone had a hen stop getting off the nest around day 17/18???
This is my first time utilizing a kennel for my broody. I will be moving her to the broody pen after the chicks have hatched but I've had too many hens freak out from being moved from the location they selected for themselves while still sitting on the eggs, so I decided that this time I would wait until we were getting close to hatch and move the hen from the nest box that the rest of the flock has access to and put her in a small kennel temporarily so the chicks would be safe from the flock while hatching.
That's where I am now (day 19)...on day 17 I replaced the nest box with the kennel and put her inside with food and water. She freaked out initially which I expected but she then settled down on her eggs. The problem is, I'm now on day 19 and I don't see where she has eaten any food or drank any water and there's no poop in there either...sooo it would appear she's not getting up to eat, drink, and poo? Should I be worried? Do I need to take her out to make sure she takes care of business? I wouldn't be so concerned if today were day 21 but I feel like if she waits until hatch day that's just too long! I'm also feeling a tad more paranoid because she's not the smartest chicken...she's a Silkie/Polish cross.
lol, I would like to think that if she gets hungry or thirsty enough she would notice the food and water right in front of her face...Thanks for any opinions!