hatching eggs under broody hens. plz help!!!

[ds1987]

hi i have 2 broody hens that has been laying on 9 eggs and they are suppose to be due today and then day after day. i dont really know what to do just let them all stay in the chicken tractor or take them away from there mom and put them in the garage and take care of them or put mom and chicks all in the garage and take care of them. this will be my first hatch and im very nervous. please help

 

[Veer67]

If there are other chickens in your chicken tractor you need to separate the broody hen from the others or risk getting the newly hatched chicks pecked on. You can put the broody hens in the garage after the chicks have hatched and are walking around in the tractor. If this doesn't work and the broody hens rejects the chicks well then, you're their new mom.

 

[ds1987]

i will move the other chickens into another pen, they are in a box laying on the egss can the chicks get out or will get hurt, can they go down the ladder to the ground

 

[Veer67]

If the box is off the ground the chicks might fall out and get hurt. A baby chicks legs are a bit "wobbly" at first so a ladder won't be much of use for them. Make sure the chicks don't get out because usually the hen won't get off of her nest until all the chicks have hatched. Good luck on your hatch!

 

[ds1987]

Ok should I get hens n eggs now n put in garage

 

[Veer67]

Well moving the hen and eggs might disturb her and seeing that she is not in a familiar place, she could abandon the eggs (that happened to me once). For now just keep them where they are and make sure no baby chicks fall out, when they are all hatched out try moving them.

 

[ds1987]

Thanks

 

[ds1987]

When does the chicks need to eat

 

[Veer67]

About on the second and third day.

 

[ds1987]

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