Help!

[Martithechickenlady]

I have a very broody hen that has never had a brood, I put 7 incubated eggs ready to hatch (2day) under her today. Now I am questioning this decision. Not sure, as I have never had a hen hatch any eggs, if she will accept the eggs??? Any advice??

 

[BYCforlife]

I have a very broody hen that has never had a brood, I put 7 incubated eggs ready to hatch (2day) under her today. Now I am questioning this decision. Not sure, as I have never had a hen hatch any eggs, if she will accept the eggs??? Any advice??

If a hen is broody, she will most likely take any eggs you'll give her, even golf balls.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

It depends on how long she has been broody, the longer she has been broody, the higher the odds of her accepting the new eggs, but make sure to watch when they hatch, since they are supposed to hatch soon, she may reject the chicks knowing they are too early of a hatch to be hers. I have had broody hens reject them, and some of them had been broody about a week!

 

[rIrs roost]

If she's broody she will accept them

 

[Martithechickenlady]

Thanks! My coop has nesting boxes that are about two feet from the floor of coop. I built a ramp from nesting box to floor and of course there is a ramp from floor to ground. My question is how will those chicks stay in that box will they use the ramp? Will they fall to their death?

 

[rIrs roost]

Hopefully the hen will make sure that they don't fall. I always move my broodys to the floor. . Gotta be careful doing that though. The hen may not sit on the eggs then. I usually move them at night. But there's one hen that no matter when or where I moved her, she stay put.

 

[Martithechickenlady]

So, I shouldn't worry bout the height?? Another question, I have incubated eggs in the past and have always put the the chicks in an empty water tank with shavings food and water, will the hen lead the chicks to her food and water?? I am trying to let nature take it course but I just want to be sure!

 

[Martithechickenlady]

i have always fed the new chicks medicated feed for chicks should I continue this?

 

[rIrs roost]

So, I shouldn't worry bout the height?? Another question, I have incubated eggs in the past and have always put the the chicks in an empty water tank with shavings food and water, will the hen lead the chicks to her food and water?? I am trying to let nature take it course but I just want to be sure!

honestly I can't say that you shouldn't worry about the heigth because I've always moved mine. Hopefully the mama hen can control them. And as long as the broody hen accepts them she will teach them everything that they need to know. I don't feed mine the medicated feed but that's my preference. It's up to you about that. Maybe get a few more opinions .