emergancy help needed, don't know what I can do.

[toetoe]

I will try to make this as short as I can but get it all in.

I have 2 brooders. One is 1 year(louseal) Bantam, one is 9 months(whity) was told an AC?.

Louseal went broody first and whity 2 days later. Louseal had 7 eggs all hatched but 1, 48 hours ago. Whity still has her eggs under her.
They are both in the same brooding pen. It is 7 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. One door at one end.

Lousel is a good mom she stayed on the eggs for the whole time and only got off once a day to poo, drink and eat. Her chicks were hatched in 19 days.

My problem is Whity..she before her nest was moved into the brooder was geting off to poo, drink and eat once a day but after would go into a different nest with nothing but a dumby egg in it. I had to transfer her into the right nest 4 times. Finally I put her in the brooding pen to keep her with her nest.

Today I opened the brooder so Louseal could take her babys out to learn to scratch. As soon as the door was opened Whity dashed out and did not return until 45 min. later, when I placed her back in her nest.

At sun down when I went to close my hen house for my other chickens and close the door to the brooder I found quite a shock.

Whity was not in her nest brooding her eggs. Instead Louseal had gotten in Whity's nest with her chicks and the eggs. She was not destroying Whity's eggs she was just sitting on ALL of it.

Whity was brooding a dumby egg in the hen house in a completely unused nest.

I pulled the eggs from under Louseal and put them in Louseals empty nest and transfered Whity onto her eggs in the brooder.
At which she seemed happy to find them.

*********This is my problem*********

If Whity dose hatch these eggs but leaves the chicks, is there a chance that Louseal might take on the extra chicks? They are do to hatch with in 24 hours.

If Whity again gets off her nest and dose not go back to them, dose this mean she is done brooding?
If so can I put the eggs in a incubator to finish the hatching?

Whity dose stay on her eggs all day once I help her find them again.

What can I do. I have Silky eggs under her and I don't want to loose them.

 

[Mahonri]

It's why you have an incubator handy to use in case something happens like that.

Sorry, I'm not much help.

 

[tropicalchicken]

How much longer do Whity's eggs need to go before they are supposed to hatch? I had a broody hen similar to yours and we lost the whole batch as she kept getting off her eggs and getting lost until we would put her back on her nest. I think she was just off of the eggs to long to keep them viable. Our other broody's did fine and their eggs hatched out just fine, but they stayed on the nests the whole time except for one potty break and a quick drink, some food, then they would hop right back on.

As far as another mommy taking them on if they hatch, that is a possibility as long as they are not to far behind the ones she already has. We have done this, but tried not to mix more than a couple days difference.

 

[toetoe]

I don't have a incubator but might be able to get one from a friend if she is not using it.

Louseal's hatch was 48 hours ago and Whity's should be tomorrow.

 

[hollyandty]

Why not let Louseal finish the hatch for you? She was willing to sit on the eggs so just let her hatch them out.

 

[Rock Wyandotte]

I was thinking the same thing as the previous reply - why not just let Louseal hatch them out for you. She loves it. Whitey does not sound like a strong broody hen and Louseal is ready, willing and able! I think you're all set.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

One problem I see with letting Louisa set on them is that she may quit before they are hatched (since she has already hatched hers). Doesn't a hen usually leave her nest after 2 days with all the new chicks and leave the other eggs behind? This second batch of eggs is due tomorrow, but they may take over 24 hours to hatch and she may not stay that long.

Whitey doesn't sound like a bad mother, she just forgets where her nest is. As warm as it is right now (summer), 45 minutes uncovered won't hurt the eggs.

Since Whitey sits on her nest fine once you set her back - maybe you could just monitor her time out of the broody pen (or don't let her out) and place her right back on her nest after about 30-45 minutes (if she doesn't return by herself)

Or.......

you can put Louisa on them and watch VERY closely in case she gives up on them (a perfectly normal thing for a good broody to do after 48 hours).

 

[toetoe]

Well thank you for all your suggestions. But there has been a change of plans.
While in the brooder Louseal attacked whity this morning and water spilled, food spilled, chicks stepped on and eggs knocked out of nest. Feathers every where.
I have removed Whity and her eggs and nest and put them all in one large cage I have for transporting birds. It's a little cramped but it will have to do till hatching is done.

Now I just hope the eggs are OK and she will finish the hatching.

Then I hope that if the eggs hatch and both mothers are out in the same run there will not be a fight.

Wish me luck.

 

[toetoe]

Good news..she has 2 chicks under her as of 4 hours ago. So far so good.

 

[cw]

is she goin to accept the chicks?