Got a surprise!!

[Lynette]

My Old English Game bantam has been laying on 8 eggs. I just thought she was being broody again, but I thought I heard peeping under her and sure enough, she hatched the eggs!! Since this is totally unexpected and my first time at having my own chicken have chicks, what do I do? Let her raise them? It looks like all but 1 egg has hatched. She is still trying to hatch it.

 

[HappyFarmLady]

THat is soo exciting!!!! Congrats!!

 

[Hopefulloflove]

How Fun!!!!

 

[ailurophile23]

Let her raise them - she is probably more prepared to do so than you are.

Hopefully those with more chick experience will pipe in with advice. Good luck!

 

[CarlaS]

That's so cute have fun!

 

[Lynette]

Thanks! We are excited about it. I was thinking I probably will let her raise them. I was just concerned because it is so late in the season and even though they are separated from other chickens, I am not sure how they will be brought into the flock. I will be posting a pic when I get more time. They are sooo adorable!!

 

[lampshadeee69]

Just let her do the mothering. All you have to make sure of is that you have food that can fit in their mouths (crumbles work well.) And a watersource they can reach. As for the rest of the high-matinence chicks require, the hen takes care of it! Broodiness is an amazing thing.

 

[JakRat]

Quote:
super like

that is sooo awesome!

 

[chickens are great 12]

thats so exciting!! My one Mini Japanese Chicken sits on her eggs a lot. I think shes just broody, and we don't have any roosters so she can't have any chicks. it would be funny if I checked her and underneath her I found chicks!! Haha!

good luck with the chicks! It is fun to have chicks!

 

[LovinChicknFarmn]

Definitely let her raise them. She'll do great job. Keep an eye on how they're hatching out. If any are unhatched in a few days, take them away so she'll get up and start mothering the chicks. Otherwise, she'll do the rest! Congrats! We hatched out 5 Japanese-Old English Game Bantams earlier this summer. I wrote about it on my blog (link below) if you want more tips.