chicks are hatching!! Yay

[sham30]

Lots of the chicks are now hatching, odd that one was so much sooner then the others, it made me nervous! Should I assist any of them that are half hatched or let mom do her thing? She has been such a great mother hen

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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Mom won't appreciate it no matter how friendly she is. Let nature and mom take it's course and just clean her nest out a couple of days after they are all out. It gets pretty rancid from the hatch

 

[sham30]

I thought lettling her do her thing was best, just wanted to check as this is my first time hatching eggs - I was thinking it would be pretty yucky in there after they are done. What is your opinion on letting her stay with the chicks or taking them out and seperating them? She is already away from all my other hens - just want whats best

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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I would feel terrible taking them away from her after all her hard work. They love being moms and although the chicks may not be as friendly to humans when raised by a broody there is still so much to be said for it. I just go out a couple times a day to interact with them to offset that wildness. I also kept mine in a broody cage within the coop. Today (six days after hatch) is the first day I have left her door open, so I am a bit nervous but the others seem respectful. I do worry about them falling off the ramp if they do venture out so I am checking often

Good Luck !
~Julie

Forgot to add that the reason I left her in the main coop with the babies is so there are no issues with re-introduction. When one is removed for whatever reason the re-introduction can be harsh. I am also going to raise those babies within that flock until I decide who is going (boys) and who is staying. I just cant bring myself to eat a fertilized egg after hearing the Trader Joes egg stories

 

[sham30]

I never thought about the re-introduction

I could have kept her there, well next time I will know better! What was the Trader Joe's egg thing? or do I not want to know

 

[RhodeRed596]

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Do not help them hatch, it can cause leg problems.

Unless, you are trying to hatch twins, they can die sometimes if you don't help them, like I said, Sometimes.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

The TJ's thing is that they sell fertile eggs to the public and even after one to two weeks they are still viable and lots of people have hatched them. You can do a search for it on this site using the blue bar at the top of the page and type in Trader Joes. I had no idea, I was under the impression that once refridgerated they were no longer alive so to speak. Strange

 

[sham30]

Tonight when I did my night barn check the poor hen looked so uncomfortable like she could not sit - with 5 chicks hatched and the others not I worry the eggs are gonna get cold, she is not all the way on the other eggs - what should I do?

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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Just let momma do her thing. They know better than us and they sacrafice comfort and freedom to raise babies. It's amzing to see nature in charge.