Help it is cold out today and i am worried for them!

[Sydspeeps]

I have a bantam hen that has just started this morning hatching a clutch of eggs. It is kinda cool out today around 55 degrees or so and raining. She had made her nest outside in some plants by our barn. I have given her a make shift roof over her head for the last three weeks and it was hidden very well. My issue now is does anyone know how long it should take for all the eggs to hatch and when I should move them to their private section in the coop? I just worry about them getting cold and dying. Could I move her, some of the babies and the rest of the nest before they have all hatched or would that be bad? Help!! Thanks. : )

 

[song of joy]

A hatch usually occurs over a 24-hour period, but there are certainly exceptions to this (for example, if other hens added fertile eggs to her clutch after she was already incubating). As long as she's dry and safe from predators, she shouldn't have any problem safely hatching out the chicks and keeping them warm. Newly-hatched chicks usually stay under mom for at least 24 hours while the other chicks are hatching. It would be far riskier to try to move the hen, chicks and unhatched or partially hatched eggs.

After the eggs have hatched, gather up the hen and chicks and move them to the coop.

 

[Sydspeeps]

That's what I was thinking too. I have built them a makeshift little hut that's nice and warm and dry and nothing can get at them. I just hope they all hatch out before tonight because its supposed to get down into the low 40s and I will not be able to sleep worrying about them lol I for some stupid reason didn't really think they were gonna hatch and by time we found her nest she had been gone for 4 days or so so I didn't want to disturb her at that point so that's why I didn't put her in the coop in the first place. Thanks for the reply.

 

[song of joy]

You're welcome. Let us know how things turn out.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Sydspeeps]

So far we have five babies and one is currently hatching as we speak. They made it through the night just fine. There is still 10 more eggs to go. I cant believe she had that many under her 4 of which were not even hers. I should give through today to continue hatching right?? I will candle later tonight if there is no action on any remaining eggs. It could take them all up to 48 hrs to hatch right??

 

[song of joy]

That's a lot of eggs! As you still have chicks hatching this morning, I'd wait until tomorrow morning to move mom and chicks, and then check on any remaining eggs. The 4 that were added by other hens may be substantially delayed compared to the rest. There may also be some eggs that were not adequately covered during incubation, and may not have developed.

She'll want to get off the nest, move around and feed/water her chicks within about 48 hours after the first chicks hatch, so watch for signs of her getting up and moving. At that point, she'll be done incubating and you'll have to decide what to do with the remaining eggs. If she's not getting up to take care of her chicks, you may want to pull the remaining eggs so she's more inclined to tend the chicks.

 

[Bryam]

Yup, you don't want the hatched chicks to starve. Keep on eye on things!

 

[enola]

The first chicks that hatched will need to eat by the time they are 2 to 2and1/2 days old.

 

[Sydspeeps]

I did end up moving them into the daycare area in the coop last night because mama was getting rather restless and i could tell she was getting tired of sitting on the remaining eggs. So I moved her, the seven babies, and the remaining 9 eggs. Once I got them all settled she lasted on her eggs for about an other hour and that was it. She plopped by the other end and was caring for her babies. So I took the eggs and candles them. 4 were duds and I couldn't tell with the other six. I don't have an incubator so I just put them under my heat light and decided if they will hatch that's the best I can do. Totally didn't expect anything to happen and when I went to bed last night there wasn't anything. Well this morning one has piped and I can see it moving in the little hole. So I guess one more will hatch after all. No action from the other eggs though. It has been four days now since the first one hatched so they probably won't. I'm glad I saved one though. Hopefully mom will accept it. Thanks for the info, mom and babies are doing great all eating and drinking! I pretty much doubled my flock over night!!