Broody hen set 2/14 -- THEY HATCHED!

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
So adorable - fantastic job Tippy

Before tossing the eggs, you might want to candle them - just to see if one going to be late.


Yippy for Tippy

 

[Sunny Side Up]

We just closed up Mama Q-Tip's crate for the night, she's still setting tight but now there are little bright-eyed babies peeping out from under her feathers. I will candle those eggs before burying if they haven't hatched, but if they haven't they are probably duds. I set them all at the very same time when she started. She will need to get up and take care of her new chickies and herself tomorrow, not try to get any more eggs to hatch.

I usually don't set bantam eggs because I haven't wanted to deal with excess unwanted little roosters. So it's an extra-special treat to have these tiny banty babies to adore! They look like little chenille Easter decorations.

 

[annie3001]

what a good momma hen she is... so cute lil chickies!

 

[Pharm Girl]

Hi there, I have a newbie question. I'm about to set 4 eggs under my broody and see what happens. Mine is in a similar pan. When the chicks hatch, do they jump out of the pan? Can they get back in? Does the Mama hen take care of it? Just trying to prepare myself.
Thanks!

 

[chickenlover96]

i would put more than 4 eggs under her and she will take care of it and teh chicks can not jump for a feww weeks after born

 

[Chickengal505]

What sweetys

hope their all lil' prissy girls "knock on wood"

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The nest is in a plastic soda crate. Did you notice that they're using pine needles for bedding? It's free! There are big open spaces around the edges of the crate. The chicks should be able to either hop over the top of the crate or go through the spaces. I'll make sure they are able to get in & out when Mama takes them out. It's amazing how well they are able to hop/climb right from the start.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The last 2 eggs never hatched, never even pipped, so I just buried them with the empty eggshells. I am squeamish about opening unhatched eggs, don't really want to see half-formed chicks or oozy goo. Whatever was in them is now contributing to the growth of a flowering shrub.

There are 4 little yellows, 2 chipmunk brown, and 2 striped grey. I moved the pet carrier to another enclosed little pen so the family can grow up safely. I was afraid that a tiny chick would slip through the bars of the wire kennel and get into the pen with the other adult banties. I have a little Dutch hen that is ferocious and might kill a chick that wasn't hers.

Thank you all for waiting with us! Now I wait to see how many of them start to develop red combs.