Hen left the eggs on day 2

[Waite5flock]

They definitely know when you have plans!

I gave in and decided that the pen would be easier than having the sitter make sure that she stays on the eggs. Now he just has two areas to feed and water.

 

[Waite5flock]

Perfect!! I have a broody as well right now hatching some quail eggs! Just candled today (day 8, 9 days left!) And I have 7 live growing babies

That’s very exciting!! I only just got my flock at the end of May. This chicken only started laying for a couple weeks before she went broody. I was hoping I could break her since she’s so young but it didn’t work. She’s very determined. I just hope she sticks with it. It took me a while to find her some fertile eggs. I was hoping to find columbian rock or columbian Wyandotte eggs but there are none available in my area. So a breeder friend offered me opal legbar eggs, since I was looking to add some light coloured feathers to my flock. I will keep one opal hen and the rest she will take back to replenish her stock. Which seemed like the easiest way to add just one hen to our small flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think your solution is perfect. Usually with my broody hens if a broody comes back from her daily constitutional and another hen is on the nest she just joins her. It's no big deal. But I have had a hen do what yours apparently did, get confused and go to a different nest. When I notice I put them back on their real nest, it's not caused bad hatches for me. I remember one that was probably off her nest most of the day. When I noticed the eggs were ice cold. She still hatched 11 out of 11.

I can't guarantee you that the eggs are fine. What I suggest is to wait until next Sunday and candle the eggs. See if they are developing. That would be 7 days. If you are an experienced candler you might be able to tell earlier if they are developing but by day 7 it should be really clear.

How big are the holes in your wire surrounding that pen? Can a baby chick get through that hole? You don't want a chick to be able to get through that where Mama can't protect it. Without Mama's protection they could be in danger. You might want to put some smaller mesh wire along the bottom of that to keep the chicks in if those holes are fairly big.

 

[Waite5flock]

I think your solution is perfect. Usually with my broody hens if a broody comes back from her daily constitutional and another hen is on the nest she just joins her. It's no big deal. But I have had a hen do what yours apparently did, get confused and go to a different nest. When I notice I put them back on their real nest, it's not caused bad hatches for me. I remember one that was probably off her nest most of the day. When I noticed the eggs were ice cold. She still hatched 11 out of 11.

I can't guarantee you that the eggs are fine. What I suggest is to wait until next Sunday and candle the eggs. See if they are developing. That would be 7 days. If you are an experienced candler you might be able to tell earlier if they are developing but by day 7 it should be really clear.

How big are the holes in your wire surrounding that pen? Can a baby chick get through that hole? You don't want a chick to be able to get through that where Mama can't protect it. Without Mama's protection they could be in danger. You might want to put some smaller mesh wire along the bottom of that to keep the chicks in if those holes are fairly big.

Thanks! I appreciate the reassurance that the pen should work. Today she came out and had a snack and some water and seemed content. The others were a bit concerned and tried to get through the wire to her. That’s when she seemed to realize she was contained. She started pacing trying to get out. I left her alone for a bit to settle and she quickly calmed down and went back to her nest. I think it’s going to be a good solution. As far as I can tell she has been on her eggs all day.

The holes in the wire is just regular chicken wire. I’m not sure if a chick would fit through it or not. I’ve never had chicks. I got my flock as pullets. I do have scraps of hardware cloth that I can piece around the bottom if you think a chick can go through chicken wire. I definitely don’t want them escaping without mama to protect them. I am hopeful that they won’t be in the brooder pen too long after hatch. What would be “normal”? I’m hopeful they can integrate after a couple weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If yours are bantams they can probably get through. If they are regular full-sized fowl chicks I'm not sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that. I don't use a lot of chicken wire, usually either hardware cloth or 2"x4" welded wire.

I let mine hatch with the flock so I usually don't isolate them at all. If my coop is getting pretty crowded I have a pen out in the run that I train the hen to take them to sleep in. When I do that, they stay in there for two nights and part of three days to train the hen to take them there to sleep at night. It's not because I'm worried about the little chicks with the flock.

 

[Waite5flock]

If yours are bantams they can probably get through. If they are regular full-sized fowl chicks I'm not sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that. I don't use a lot of chicken wire, usually either hardware cloth or 2"x4" welded wire.

I let mine hatch with the flock so I usually don't isolate them at all. If my coop is getting pretty crowded I have a pen out in the run that I train the hen to take them to sleep in. When I do that, they stay in there for two nights and part of three days to train the hen to take them there to sleep at night. It's not because I'm worried about the little chicks with the flock.

That’s nice to hear. I am hoping to be able to remove the pen shortly after hatch. I’m hoping around day 4-5. I wasn’t planning to pen her.

 

[Waite5flock]

That’s nice to hear. I am hoping to be able to remove the pen shortly after hatch. I’m hoping around day 4-5. I wasn’t planning to pen her.

And they aren’t bantams.