Getting ready to set and hatch with a broody, 1st timer with questions!

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Just make sure they can't fall out of the nest and not be able to get back.

I have 2 small triangle shapes that I could plug at the back of the nest. That’s the only place a chick could ‘climb’ into. I figured I’d need to leave her be. It is sooooo hard not to check though. I noticed yesterday that she was sitting oddly on her clutch.. so I was wondering if there isn’t some action starting to happen under there already. I resisted all my temptation though to thoroughly check it out!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Update.. 2.0..

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!!

At chickie bedtime, I heard faint little peeps from under our Silkie tonight. It was the sweetest sound. The hatch date for her (Snowball’s) chicks is officially tomorrow.

 

[rebrascora]

WooHoo!!! You are doing so well keeping your hands off and she is obviously doing really well too..... wait till you see those cute little fluff butts climbing all over her! She has obviously cooked those eggs well for them to be a day early. So exciting!
Any sound from your Australorp? Is she talking to her eggs?

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

WooHoo!!! You are doing so well keeping your hands off and she is obviously doing really well too..... wait till you see those cute little fluff butts climbing all over her! She has obviously cooked those eggs well for them to be a day early. So exciting!
Any sound from your Australorp? Is she talking to her eggs?

No sound from Jade (Australorp) yet.. but her hatch day is this Tuesday. Her breaks seem to be getting smaller and smaller though. I do hear her making noises, especially when I get close to the brooder.

I have seen 2 of the fluffy babies so far today. She also pushed out one of her opened and empty eggs far away from her. Still in her nest though. I took that out before we headed to church this morning. I can’t even describe how exciting and absolutely amazing this is!

Can’t wait to confirm all of her 5 babies have hatched!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Update 2.1 .....

So we have these two photogenic babies with a ton of energy! Another one is under Snowball but hasn't ventured out really since it was born about 8a this morning and only about 6 hours old.



The other 2 eggs were placed in under the Australorp since her hatch day is tomorrow and one of her eggs was already doing this:



Snowball, the above Mama, seemed to have a bit of a juggle with 2 active babies, one hatching and 2 eggs that hadn't yet started. At one point she had one of the eggs popped out her backside just sitting behind her uncovered. I figured that lightening her load would help her to be a good mama to these 3. Jade is an Australorp and I have confidence that her set-up, in our built in brooder, will be better for adventurous chicks while she waits for everyone to hatch. Plus there is no way that the other hens can disturb her, until she's completely ready for the brooder door to be opened up.

It has been such an adventure and I absolutely love all of the teaching moments that this is providing us in our homeschool lifestyle. Did I mention, I'm absolutely in LOVE watching these babies and how the mama is teaching them to eat and drink!

 

[WVduckchick]

Congrats! It doesn't get much sweeter than a broody and her babies.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Update 2.2 ....

Yay! All 3 babies and mama looking good...



And at chickie bedtime tonight, Jade has at least 2 distinct peeps coming from her nest box. Can’t wait to see what babies tomorrow has in store for us

 

[rebrascora]

Many congratulations. They are gorgeous and I totally agree that watching a broody teaching her chicks is the best chicken TV ever. She may want to leave the nest soon with her chicks, since you have removed the remaining eggs. It is healthy for her to leave the nest behind and normal behaviour. Does she have space where she can brood them on the ground in her enclosure? They do not generally return to the nest once they leave it unless they feel it is the safest option.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Many congratulations. They are gorgeous and I totally agree that watching a broody teaching her chicks is the best chicken TV ever. She may want to leave the nest soon with her chicks, since you have removed the remaining eggs. It is healthy for her to leave the nest behind and normal behaviour. Does she have space where she can brood them on the ground in her enclosure? They do not generally return to the nest once they leave it unless they feel it is the safest option.

Thank you! I have plenty of floor space that is under where she presently is.. should I put up the temporary enclosure (her and her babies could get in/out but none of the LF would be able to) and put her and her babies in it? Or just let her do it?

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I could block off, with wire.. this space..


This is where she is right now:

It would look similar to this: