Hen just hatched chicks, what do I need to do?

[moonpie]

I have a little bantam hen who has so far hatched two little chickies. I am not sure when they exactly hatched whether it was earlier today, or yesterday evening. We've been gone all day, and I just decided to have a look-see under her and I see.. LITTLE FEET! I'm like.. oh my goodness!! Yell to hubby.. look we've got one!.. wait.. two! So there are 5 more eggs, my question is will she get up and take the little one's out to teach them to eat and drink? She's new at this, and so am I! What do I need to put in the broody coop with her and them? How long can they stay under her without having something to eat and drink and am I just worrying for nothing and she'll do it all and be fine? I can already tell I'm not going to be sleeping much tonight worrying about those little chicks that are outside. Does she need a heat lamp in there? I have chicks inside that I bought, but it didn't even occur to me to think about what to do with the one's outside... I honestly didn't even think they would hatch because she moved nests and got confused.. but here they are! Please any help you can give would be wonderful, and anything that you think of that I didn't ask, because I'm all stressed would be GREAT! Thanks to all!

Tanya

 

[loverOFchickens]

Hey congrats!

My suggestion: let her sit. Even if they where all put under her on the same day they can hatch up to 24 hours apart. Bantams can be determined so if she sits more than another 2 days (if you put all the eggs under at the same time) you may want to remove the rest of the eggs.

It would be a good idea to have feed and water available nearby but for now the chicks will mostly just stay under mama until their siblings hatch. Here is on thing not to do and I can't stress this enough

DO NOT HANDLE THE CHICKS until they are at least a day old the hatching eggs should NOT BE PICKED UP OR HANDLED EITHER.

I know you can get REEEAAAALLYY anxious and impatient but it's just a part of hatching chicks. Mama should know what to do even if she is a 1st timer.