H.E.L.P...theres a baby under hen!

[Msbear]

Im glad to see that, for the most part, things worked out well. The chicks were accepted and you had a decent hatch. It's hard to not intervene especially when you look back and see maybe you should have.

They (I don't know who they is) say the natural way is always the best policy when it comes to hatching. Too many times, we've all tried to "help" and things have turned out worse so this way, I guess, it's never our fault. hahaha

I know that on my first hatch, I was so excited to see growth, I candled every week. The next day after one of my candeling fixes I peeked and noticed one of the eggs had a big crack. I let it go and the next day, it was crawling with bugs. I gently opened it (thinking for sure it was dead) and it wasn't but then it did. Did I crack it accidentally messing with it?? I don't know.

Then I had a hen abandon the nest so I incubated. The egg was cold all night so the hatch was delayed. At first sign of pip, I was so happy. (I candled a couple times and tried to put the egg right side up -eggs shouldn't be turned the last week-and always wondered if the delay was the poor thing trying to reposition itself for hatching) and then finally, the finale...I helped the little guy hatch, because he looked sooo pathetic and desperate for my help. WRONG!!! He wound up having a bloody navel because they're supposed to take a while to hatch to allow this to dry. She's fine now. out there pecking as I speak but it could've turned out real bad.

So situations like these are why it's best just to let it go.

You could've helped little baby to get water and the hen would've abandoned the nest or something else I can't think of.

Not that that was even the problem. Sometimes they just die. At least you have lots of little chickies love and watch

 

[coolchickens]

Babies are still doing great!! I'm still sitting in the chicken pen watching! Great TV

I can't believe when they are SO young, they are so active. Mom took them out yesterday into the pen and sunshine and they all layed around with their wings out and leg stretched out like mom's. It was hesterical to watch. Everyone seems strong and active. I can't believe I got a Cochin baby as the Cochin rooster was killed by a bobcat bef. the hen sent broody. What a miricle if he left me a baby of his!!!

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
That's great! Glad you're enjoying them.
Sometimes i'm late for work in the morning because of chicken TV. In the early morning when I let mine out to free-range for the day, they come bursting out of their coop like cannonballs on fire and it takes a little while for mommas to find their babies etc. the drama is soooo funny with all those little chickies and fluffed up mommas making sure their group is 'correct' and all the teenagers acting rascally and chasing each other. ha ha. I can't tell my employer why I'm late every day!

 

[shelleyd2008]

My 3year old calls it 'the show'. Ours is on in the evening though

I don't close mine up at all, they just roost in the barn, which is always open. There are some meat bird chicks running around the yard with a game hen, and they need a ladder to get up in the rafters. Then, there is always at least one of 'the boys' who wants to pick a fight, usually 5 or six of them. They are young (4-5 mo. old) cockerels, and they are still practicing. But it is definitely entertaining!

 

[coolchickens]

Oh, that is so funny! My boss would have had a fit if I said the chickens made me late also. Fortunately, I just retired so now I can sit and watch all day! They fascinate me. I never wanted babies bef., now I think I'm addicted like the rest of you! ha I'm curious to see how they grow and when they leave mama, stop going under her for nesting. I envision her sitting on the 2 large Giant Jerseys and then her two own in a month or so and wondering "what the heck happened". I'm assuming by then they don't go under mama anymore. I've got LOTS of chicken TV coming my way....

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
It will be very interesting for me, in a few weeks. My splash dutch hen just started setting a few days ago. Provided she hatches well, one of her eggs is from my dad's RIR's!!! That chick will be as big as her in a month!!

 

[coltsrox]

Quote:
She's too young. Most hens get broody (set on the nest) in the springtime. They are smart that way. She won't go broody till she feels like it, so there's no use in trying to make her go broody. Once she goes broody though, she won't let you change her mind! Don't worry -- just make eggs for breakfast every day, and in the springtime you can mark 8-10 eggs with a black x and leave those in the nest. she'll let you know when she goes broody because she'll refuse to leave the nest and that's when you can sneak the "x" eggs out and replace them with fresh fertile eggs for her to hatch.
BTW not all hens go broody. Bantams usually do though.

will she fight me if i don't want babies?