Chick is internally pipped help!

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

Ive got a hen sitting on an egg thats internally pipped as of now however I do not have this hen and soon to come baby in a brooder because ours is occupied by another hen and baby chick. What do I do?? I have a playpen i could set up in the run I could put them in maybe? Or perhaps the over a week old chick and hen are maybe okay to come out with the flock tomorrow and I could move new mom and baby to the brooder?? (Brooder is built in the coop visible to the rest of the flock seperated with chicken wire) another issue is food and water for babies the adults will eat all of their food if I dont have them seperated that or mom will try to teach baby to eat the layer feed and thats obviously a no go .ugh someone tell me the best thing to do here. My man is out of town for medical emergency so its just me trying to figure something out. Even if its temporary I don't care I need a last minute best approach to this. (Just to be clear I genuinely believe based off both mom's personalities they would not be okay locked in the brooder together they are the grouchiest two of the flock. its never that easy )

 

[DobieLover]

Why are you removing the broody hens from the flock? They do just fine in the flock. As long as they have enough room to maneuver and everyone can stay away from the mother they'll be just fine.
If you're going to have a flock of anything other than layers that you plan to keep into and beyond their first molt you should never be feeding layer mix. You should be feeding an all flock type of food that offers 18 to 20% protein with oyster shell in multiple containers on the side for free choice feeding by hens that actually need the extra calcium.
These two broody hens being the grouchiest hens in the flock is a good thing. No one will mess with them!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can see my response to some of this in the thread below. I still want some information before I respond too much.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-made-a-mistake.1672995/page-2#post-28751155

But you raise some new questions here.

the adults will eat all of their food if I dont have them seperated that or mom will try to teach baby to eat the layer feed and thats obviously a no go

The way most of us solve this is to feed everyone the same thing, a low calcium Starter, Grower, Flock Raiser, All-Flock or such with oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the calcium for their eggshells tend to eat enough and the others do not eat enough to harm themselves.

I genuinely believe based off both mom's personalities they would not be okay locked in the brooder together they are the grouchiest two of the flock.

I'd keep the two broody hens separated from each other. Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes they fight over who gets to raise both chicks and sometimes one tries to kill the other one's chick. I don't like to take that chance.

 

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

Why are you removing the broody hens from the flock? They do just fine in the flock. As long as they have enough room to maneuver and everyone can stay away from the mother they'll be just fine.
If you're going to have a flock of anything other than layers that you plan to keep into and beyond their first molt you should never be feeding layer mix. You should be feeding an all flock type of food that offers 18 to 20% protein with oyster shell in multiple containers on the side for free choice feeding by hens that actually need the extra calcium.
These two broody hens being the grouchiest hens in the flock is a good thing. No one will mess with them!

Yep I figure that makes them the best moms! And unfortunately I live on an island and have only layer feed to choose from here but I may request one of the stores to get that type of feed. Can chicks eat that too? And separating because the coop we have is small so I seperate for a time and let mom and babies out after I feel confident the flock won't try to hurt the babies

 

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

You can see my response to some of this in the thread below. I still want some information before I respond too much.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-made-a-mistake.1672995/page-2#post-28751155

But you raise some new questions here.


The way most of us solve this is to feed everyone the same thing, a low calcium Starter, Grower, Flock Raiser, All-Flock or such with oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the calcium for their eggshells tend to eat enough and the others do not eat enough to harm themselves.


I'd keep the two broody hens separated from each other. Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes they fight over who gets to raise both chicks and sometimes one tries to kill the other one's chick. I don't like to take that chance.

Thankyou this is why I love this website. It's so helpful. It hadnt occurred to me to switch the feed over to chick feed yet and just allow mom and baby to remain open with the flock (we switch them to chick feed once the babies are a few weeks and eating with the rest but It just hadn't occurred to me to switch them over while the babies are so young. We usually don't have two broodys with two different babies so its not usually this complicated. We have learned our lesson on making sure the eggs are close enough on hatch date. Don't do what we did because this has been stressful. If my significant was in town it would have been less complicated and we could have team worked a 2nd last minute brooder but im alone doing this while also working and taking care of my toddler. It's been stressful. The timing is not the best so im just doing my best

 

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

Why are you removing the broody hens from the flock? They do just fine in the flock. As long as they have enough room to maneuver and everyone can stay away from the mother they'll be just fine.
If you're going to have a flock of anything other than layers that you plan to keep into and beyond their first molt you should never be feeding layer mix. You should be feeding an all flock type of food that offers 18 to 20% protein with oyster shell in multiple containers on the side for free choice feeding by hens that actually need the extra calcium.
These two broody hens being the grouchiest hens in the flock is a good thing. No one will mess with them!

Actually I tested it and let the mom and chick out of brooder and apparently I don't have a mean flock because none of them cared! Switching them all the chick feed crushing oysters for them now and mama and baby including mom and unhatched baby will be free to roam! I'm so pumped i was worried I might have a bully or two but nope no fights!