First time with a broody and eggs! Hatch with me! I need advice!

[melloladies]

Quote:
that's what i was thinking I'd do- but I just lugged my cage out there, and it's too big to fit inside and still leave the others enough room to get to the nest boxes, etc...

I guess that means garage brooder it is!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
that's what i was thinking I'd do- but I just lugged my cage out there, and it's too big to fit inside and still leave the others enough room to get to the nest boxes, etc...

I guess that means garage brooder it is!

My current broody rejected my nest in a dog crate. She flew right into my face, and then ran away from me. So I moved the eggs back to "her" nest, and she has been there ever since.

 

[Chicklette 1]

I am trying my first hatch now with my silkie. She just wouldn't give up and I was having up to three hens trying to pile into one nest. Seems that at least 2 other hens went broody at the same time. I finally decided to let the silkie sit on 3 of her own eggs as those would be the only fertile ones. I pick up all the other eggs so they can't sit on them.. they don't seem to mind sitting on air! Anyway, I did move her to a coop that they sell at TSC that is very similar to a rabbit hutch. I put a plastic box in there with lots of shavings and I moved her in broad daylight with her eggs. I put food and water in with her and she is doing a wonderful job. I take her out 2 or 3 times a day just to stretch her legs. There are a couple of the flock that chase her a little but they are not hurting her and I am there watching. This little coop is in my big pen so she sees the other girls and her rooster all the time as it has a wire front. The only thing I am concerned with is that if these chick hatch, the floor of the coop is wire and I'm afraid they will get caught. Also, can they get over a small lip on the nest box to get to the food and water? I have a large plastic container that I use for a brooder but I don't think mama will be happy in there.
Maybe these questions will help a few of us broody newbies. Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Skywalker9]

My little brown bantam cochin went broody for the first time so we stuck 7 eggs under her. That is a lot of eggs for a little bird.

The other hens kept kicking her out the nest so we moved operation egg hatch into the garage.

She was really unsure at first but has settled down quite nicely.

We are on day 3 and have NO IDEA what we are doing.

I guess you are supposed to candle or something?

I was just going to take the "let nature run it's course" route. (which means do nothing) lol

I'm anxious to hear how everyone else is doing with their broodies.

 

[melloladies]

Quote:
My setup sounds similar to yours- only my little coop isn't in the big pen. It could be- it fits- but my run isn't pred proof, so I don't want her staying in there at night. The hutch would be pred proof- but I think if a cat or something where to sneak up on her it would scare the bajeezes out of her. Anyhow- I too have a container with hay in my brooder cage. I was wondering the same thing about the babies being able to get down. I was considering one day cutting a dip in one side while momma visits with her buds. idk.
I wish you the best of luck! What day are you on??

 

[melloladies]

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I'm not relishing in your lack of knowledge- but it totally makes me feel better because I know how you feel!!! I'm thinking you don't HAVE to candle- it just lets you know how and if things are developing. My momma is a banty too- full of spunk! I think she'll do well- but my nature is to worry about everything!! Only made worse by the fact that I have NO IDEA what's supposed to go on

 

[DerbyChook]

I guess you have to play it by ear. My bantam silkie just hatched eggs. I moved her twice. The first time, we had a huge thunder storm and I realized that she had be sitting under a leak from an open vent. Poor angel was shivering, but she was a keeping those eggs warm! I moved her into a dog crate in the garage under a heat lamp overnight, then put her back into the coop, this time in a small igloo dog house. A few days later, I switched her sterile eggs for some fertile. I left her with another bantam coop-mate, but gave her some protection from the LF flock. I put a screen across the opening of the dog house during the hatch because the other bantam hen kept trying to get in there with her and I was afraid babies would get trampled. Now they mix freely with no problem. I guess it depends on your coop set up and the temperament of your flock.

 

[sheila3935]

I have a BA that is in the last 4 days of setting. Hers are due April 14th. This nis what I have her in I can keep the doors open if she wants to go out or close them if another is bugging her but for the most part it is open all the time. She is on 8 eggs candled last night and all seem to be doing great. The little coop is in the main coop with the others.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Another thing I find helpful is to make any big changes with the hen after dark. Although some hens won't mind being moved at any time, or having their eggs handled, most will not accept a new location when it's light enough for them to see what you're doing to them. Of course, like DerbyChook's hen, sometimes there are emergencies when you just have to do it anyway.

After the chicks have hatched are are mobile, you can do a lot more. You can change their location or living quarters, the hen will go anywhere to stay with her chicks. If you have a set-up that would be difficult for chicks to navigate, you can wait until the eggs have hatched to make the changes.

I don't bother the hens or the eggs by candling them. There has never been an incident here with spoiled or rotten eggs exploding under a setting hen, and we're in steamy South Fla.

 

[melloladies]

Sheila- that looks like an ideal setup!
Gesine is having a good day, I think

First "official" day of the egg count (I set her late yesterday)
She had a little break in the AM, and then a bit longer in the evening. She even seemed to know more where her eggs where when she wanted to head back in- previously she would head to the regular coop. Today she hopped up and over the fence that separtes the "chicken" area from the garden area (which is off the garage) so I think she'll get the idea eventually.

My concerns are:
She doesn't seem to eat much- even when she's on break. Her #1 priority is dustbathing.

She doesn't drink much either. And it's HOT here...
She doesn't have your typical "broody poo" (I'm guessing because of the above.)

Will she get hungry enough to start eating more eventually?

I haven't had to move her nest at all, but if I decide to go into the coop- I'll for sure do it at night. Good tip, thanks!
Thanks for everyones input! I'm feeling less stressed