Broody momma has been sitting for several weeks. We marked the 4 eggs she seemed so intent on, just to see... WELL, this morning we found one chick and another of the eggs is cheeping. Didn't hang around to check the other 2 eggs because momma seemed agitated. We had planned to move momma from the community coop and run to her own private condo before now, but never got around to it. Will the other hens and the rooster hurt the chicks if we leave them? or Should we move them? The coop they are in is raised off the ground about 2 feet. I'm worried about them getting in and out of the coop. If we do move them now will momma abandon them? PS, we are expecting major storms here this afternoon so what ever I do has to be done SOON! --Michelle
The second egg is pipping and when I candled the other 2 there is movement at the edge of the air pocket sorta like they are trying to break into that end of the egg. I guess those are good signs. I'm worried that moving momma now will make her abandon the unhatched eggs and not take care of the chicks at all. The garage I used to house my brooder last year until my babies were old enough to go outside has been converted into an apartment and has human occupants now, so setting up the brooder again isn't an option. Maybe I'll be more comfortable moving her after a second one has hatched... I'm at work now and don't get off until 11pm. Does anyone have thoughts about me moving her after I get home tonight?? Providing the second one has finished hatching of course.
do you have a small cage, you could place around her without moving her. I have a box with chicken wire and open bottom I put around mine until they hatched. Then when the babies were 2-4 days old I moved them to a separate area. I've only done this once and it worked well for us. Good luck!