Hi! I have 5 hens (2 light Brahma, 1 EE, 1 dark Brahma and a barred rock) and a rooster (barred rock) that I let out at the same time everyday. I got them as a group that was raised together and already starting to lay. I let them out everyday between 12-1 and they put their self up in the coop with an automatic door at sunset. I’ll go out and close the door to the run and do my head count.
A few days ago I was working outside and heard one of my hens clucking loud and causing a commotion so I ran to see what was happening. I saw her (Lt Brahma) up on top of my hay stack and assumed she ran up there to get away from a grass snake I had seen a week earlier. I “helped” her get back with the flock then went to look for the snake…found a nest of eggs on the TOP of the tall stack! Sneaky girl.
The next day she went straight to the spot and laid another.
I’m not opposed to baby chicks but I have no idea how to prep for this. I would love for her to sit on a few of my barred rock eggs and I placed a couple in the nest she had. So she’s up to about 11 eggs now.
My concerns:
1. the nest is really high
2. It’s not in an enclosure but in a well insulated barn that doesn’t get too hot or too cold. But it got down to 48 degrees last night and she wasn’t on the eggs. Will they still be viable?
3. She leaves them and only is out of her coop for about 6 hours. How long until I just start throwing them away because she’s just laying and not really broody?
I appreciate all advice! I’m adding pictures and hopefully a video so y’all can see where she’s at.
A few days ago I was working outside and heard one of my hens clucking loud and causing a commotion so I ran to see what was happening. I saw her (Lt Brahma) up on top of my hay stack and assumed she ran up there to get away from a grass snake I had seen a week earlier. I “helped” her get back with the flock then went to look for the snake…found a nest of eggs on the TOP of the tall stack! Sneaky girl.
The next day she went straight to the spot and laid another.
I’m not opposed to baby chicks but I have no idea how to prep for this. I would love for her to sit on a few of my barred rock eggs and I placed a couple in the nest she had. So she’s up to about 11 eggs now.
My concerns:
1. the nest is really high
2. It’s not in an enclosure but in a well insulated barn that doesn’t get too hot or too cold. But it got down to 48 degrees last night and she wasn’t on the eggs. Will they still be viable?
3. She leaves them and only is out of her coop for about 6 hours. How long until I just start throwing them away because she’s just laying and not really broody?
I appreciate all advice! I’m adding pictures and hopefully a video so y’all can see where she’s at.