Colorado

[Micmac1234]

Hi there! I am in Colorado (and never even knew this board existed!) but I bought eggs for my broody hen. I bought them from Washington and I’m worried that they’re not going to hatch because of the altitude change. I’m on day 22 under a broody hen, and still no chicks… Does anyone in Colorado near the Littleton area sell fertilized eggs?

 

[lomine]

Hi there! I am in Colorado (and never even knew this board existed!) but I bought eggs for my broody hen. I bought them from Washington and I’m worried that they’re not going to hatch because of the altitude change. I’m on day 22 under a broody hen, and still no chicks… Does anyone in Colorado near the Littleton area sell fertilized eggs?

If she's been sitting for 22 days, I wouldn't let her sit another 21. It wouldn't be good for her. At this point, I'd either try young chicks or try to break her broodiness. I've had great success with getting broody chicken hens to take chicks as old as a week.

 

[Micmac1234]

If she's been sitting for 22 days, I wouldn't let her sit another 21. It wouldn't be good for her. At this point, I'd either try young chicks or try to break her broodiness. I've had great success with getting broody chicken hens to take chicks as old as a week.

Oh my gosh I just posted about this in the other forum. Can you please help me?!

I brought day old chicks home and tried and she attacked them. I did it during the day and she’s never had babies so someone said to try at night but I’m terrified she’s going to kill all of them.

What do you think?!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh my gosh I just posted about this in the other forum. Can you please help me?!

I brought day old chicks home and tried and she attacked them. I did it during the day and she’s never had babies so someone said to try at night but I’m terrified she’s going to kill all of them.

What do you think?!

What breed is the hen? How long has she been broody?

 

[Micmac1234]

What breed is the hen? How long has she been broody?

She’s a buff rock. Been broody since end of April. Went broody last year from April- august. She was born in April 2021

 

[21hens-incharge]

She’s a buff rock. Been broody since end of April. Went broody last year from April- august. She was born in April 2021

Well she certainly has been broody long enough.

If you try at night use the dimmest light possible. Slide one chick under and wait. She should not stir much and should make purring type noises.
Once she has settled with that chick you can add another.

If she gets nasty then maybe motherhood just isn't for her. Some hens love to brood but refuse to raise even chicks they hatched.

 

[Micmac1234]

Well she certainly has been broody long enough.

If you try at night use the dimmest light possible. Slide one chick under and wait. She should not stir much and should make purring type noises.
Once she has settled with that chick you can add another.

If she gets nasty then maybe motherhood just isn't for her. Some hens love to brood but refuse to raise even chicks they hatched.

Would you say that once she acts accepting at night, I’m in the clear for the morning?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Would you say that once she acts accepting at night, I’m in the clear for the morning?

Good question.
I would be extremely vigilant the first few days. If she is showing them food, clucking to them while holding food in her beak and allowing hem to snuggle under her that's when you are in the clear.
If she is repeatedly pecking them or screaming at them I wouldn't let her around them.

 

[Micmac1234]

Good question.
I would be extremely vigilant the first few days. If she is showing them food, clucking to them while holding food in her beak and allowing hem to snuggle under her that's when you are in the clear.
If she is repeatedly pecking them or screaming at them I wouldn't let her around them.

She had them under her and as soon as they cheeped, she started circling and squirming and looking for them and if she saw one, she aggressively went after it.

I’m worried that she will try and kill one the second she sees it… should I wake up at 4 am haha

 

[21hens-incharge]

She had them under her and as soon as they cheeped, she started circling and squirming and looking for them and if she saw one, she aggressively went after it.

I’m worried that she will try and kill one the second she sees it… should I wake up at 4 am haha

The idea of introducing at night is the hen will be in that weird sleep state and by dawn she will have been exposed to chicks wiggling and peeping for several hours thereby not as surprised by it all.

Many hens will peck a chick for popping out when she thinks they should stay under. That looks different than an attack and should stop as soon as the chick does as mom says. It won't be an aggressive peck but more of an attention getter.

Since she is a bit more reactive getting up early might be a good idea.