HELP! Lockdown with a Broody!

[Clucklandia]

Hello! My broody hen, Hiromi is going into lockdown. It's day 18. Hiromi is a Japanese Bantam so I'm expecting an early hatch. I have a few questions about lockdown with broodies. (She has 8 eggs)

1- She coated a few eggs in poop. Is this normal? Is there a reason? I was wondering if it was for humidity?

2- All the eggs are different ages. Will she still sit on the younger ones after her first eggs hatch?

3- Do they make any kind a noise I can listen for when their eggs hatch?

Thanks! ~Skye

 

[AlleysChicks]

1.) not normal, they should get off the nest to eat and poo.

2.) how different? She may sit up to 3 days after the first chick hatched.

3.) Who? The hen or the chicks? I’d listen as you can hear the chicks make peeping sounds and Mom will often make a sound back to them.

 

[Clucklandia]

1.) not normal, they should get off the nest to eat and poo.

2.) how different? She may sit up to 3 days after the first chick hatched.

3.) Who? The hen or the chicks? I’d listen as you can hear the chicks make peeping sounds and Mom will often make a sound back to them.

1- what should I do??

2- each are 1 day apart

3- the hen

 

[sourland]

Have a plan B in mind (incubator) she will very likely leave the nest within 24 to 36 hours after the first chick hatches. Pooping in the nest is not normal and can ruin the hatch. Do you have feed and water immediately adjacent to the nest ? This is a mistake that frequently results in a hen soiling the nest.

 

[Clucklandia]

Have a plan B in mind (incubator) she will very likely leave the nest within 24 to 36 hours after the first chick hatches. Pooping in the nest is not normal and can ruin the hatch. Do you have feed and water immediately adjacent to the nest ? This is a mistake that frequently results in a hen soiling the nest.

food and water is right next to her box,
I have an incubator for plan B

 

[AlleysChicks]

Have a plan B in mind (incubator) she will very likely leave the nest within 24 to 36 hours after the first chick hatches. Pooping in the nest is not normal and can ruin the hatch. Do you have feed and water immediately adjacent to the nest ? This is a mistake that frequently results in a hen soiling the nest.

X2

 

[sourland]

Move the feed and water, and remove her from the nest daily in order to try to save this clutch.