Hatching eggs in Eglu Cube?

[thomp119]

I have some broody hens sitting on some eggs in the nest box of my Eglu Cube. Has anyone had any experience with hatching chicks inside of an Eglu? Any advice would be appreciated

 

[thomp119]

Ugh. Gotta love Southern CA weather. Rain and cold a few days ago... And now it's HOT (90s) and windy. My poor broody hens sitting on those eggs

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I don't have an Eglu but you will need to make sure the chicks can get to food and water, and if there is a ramp up to the coop part, make sure they don't fall off the ramp and get stuck outside the coop while mama went inside. Looking at pics of it online, it appears that it is going to be well nigh impossible for new chicks to keep up with mama if she goes in and out of the coop.

So you may wish to put your hen and chicks after they hatch, in a weatherproof dog crate inside the run area (safe from predators) with food and water- just an idea. If you will supervise her you could let her out once a day for exercise and she can take her chicks onto the ground for a bit. But if she goes up into the coop area they will have no mama for awhile- they could be killed by other hens.

But I don't know what kinds of predators you have. I don't know...a dog crate may let in snakes or other predators???

I like a chick-n-hutch for my broodies (in the past I have used them).

 

[thomp119]

This is my current setup
-eglu cube inside a 12Lx5Wx6H dog run

They free range during the day and are locked up at night

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Hmmm I just don't see how a new chick will be able to make it up that ladder.

I hope you get some more responses!!!

Sorry I can't be of more assistance!

 

[thomp119]

I'm thinking about buying a wooden nest box to put on the floor of the coop so the hen can take the chicks there... Because the chicks with need to be hand placed in the Eglu for a few weeks for it to work... Which I am not doing!

 

[derryconnell]

the ladder will not work for chicks....I had to put a couple of bricks to help the chicks