Hatch day is almost here!

[Hamstery]

I'm expecting her to hatch 5 eggs on Monday, 6/16.




She's got the back side of the coop to herself, with food and water. I will put chick starter in the feeder Sunday night.

Is there anything else I need to know/do? I'm letting nature take it's course....hoping she's a good momma.

Any words of wisdom or advice welcome.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I remove chicks as they hatch so she finishes her clutch then feed water them and put them back with mom or just brood them my self. I had staggered chicks- first she hatched these...removed the chicks as hatched..


then she hatched these-

I brought them in and brooded them, (the broody hens only real baby is the chubby one above.)


last night got these, she is still on eggs due 13,14,17,30,2 I will let her raise some babies eventually she likes to sit. she gets off eggs and eats n'stuff then is back on. I will take advantage of her since she wants this. she is a bantam so I don't miss her eggs.

 

[Pooman]

the awesome thing about a broody is that there is no need to do anything. Your not particularity welcome anyway. So to avoid any stress or mum standing up and walking around on the new hatches i leave them right alone. She knows what to do and will bring them out to eat and drink when they are good and ready.

 

[gimmie birdies]

mine would not hatch'm all out since it is stagered this works for me.

 

[Pooman]

Well if they are staggered you have too. Otherwise the early ones will lose condition and the last ones may be abonded. I set a clutch under the broody after she has been sitting for a few days (and make it that other chooks cant lay on her) then candle the eggs maybe twic (and discard bad ones) but that is my only intervention, and i do it at night

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree, interfere as little as possible.

Even under a broody, that 21 days is just an approximation. Most are about 21 days but it’s not that unusual for them to be a day or even two early or late. Don’t get too tied to thinking everything will go according to the clock, but you plan sounds reasonable.

What should happen is that the chicks hatch, maybe within 12 to 16 hours of each other but more likely over a longer period, maybe as long as two days. The chicks and hen talk to each other when the chicks internal pip so Mama knows that some are still on the way even before they hatch. After all the chicks have hatched and gained strength, the broody will lead them off the nest for food and water. The chicks can go three days without food or water since they absorb the yolk so don’t get excited if Mama is slow to bring them off.

You need to be careful around the broody. They are usually very protective and can step on a chick (which usually doesn’t hurt the chick but it could) as she gets in position to defend them. Also, the chicks sometimes crawl up under the feathers and wings. I killed a chick once by picking the broody up to see how many chicks she had. It had crawled under her wing and I grabbed her too strongly.

Good luck!

 

[Hamstery]

Thank you for the replies. She started sitting on all the eggs on the same day. 5/28. Could there still be 2 days between hatching? My plan is to let the momma do all the work. I won't be taking them out to brood myself.

One thing that might be a problem is the basket I have my broody laying in. It has somewhat high sides. ( see picture in initial post) I'm thinking the chicks won't be able to get out when the Momma wants to lead them to the food and water. Any suggestions on what I should do? Cut one of the ends off the basket? Take the basket right out and let her set on the floor/bedding until hatch? I just don't want to disturb her or the eggs too much, but I could probably rearrange things tomorrow when she takes a short trip out to free range. ( if she will )

 

[Ridgerunner]

How tall are those sides above the bedding. 2" to 3"? The chicks should have no trouble hopping over that once they dry out and get active..

Most of my broody and incubator hatches are over within 24 hours, but some do stretch out more than two days. There area lot of different things that affect exactly when an egg hatches. That's why they can live off the yolk for three days or more, so Mama can wait on the late hatchers before she has to take them off to find food and water.

 

[Hamstery]

How tall are those sides above the bedding. 2" to 3"? The chicks should have no trouble hopping over that once they dry out and get active..

But I don't think they will be strong enough to jump back in. ?? Maybe I could just put some hay on the outside of the basket for them to climb up. I work all day....so I don't want them to get stuck without Momma and get too cold.

I hope she gets her appetite back after she has her little ones. She's not eating much.

 

[Pooman]

The will easily be able to do that, only a few inches, no problems even at a young age.