How do I hatch egg without incubator?

[Fred's Hens]

You've so very much to learn. I'd spend a whole lot more time reading, listening and learning in the "Learning Center", BackYard Chickens provides under the brown tab above.

The fact is that chickens have a strictly ordered society that is structured very differently than a human society or even any mammalian society. If you put a 5 week old chick into a pen of adult birds, the consequences are often life threatening to the chick. The birds see it as an intruder and many times? They'll peck it to death. Certainly, it will be chased, bullied and prevented from eating, drinking and finding rest. Integration is difficult. It can be done, but it appears you've not yet come to understand either the potential challenges nor the possible methods of successful integration.

Again, the BYC administration spent a lot of time writing the Learning Center material. Worth some time spent reading.

 

[gabrielle1976]

For the most part Only broody hens want anything to do with eggs and chicks , if she isnt broody she will see the baby as an intruder or a snack ether way it wont go well. I dont think eggs are sapose to get or stay wet unless they are lke duck eggs maybe so I am not sure if the damp paper towel thing will work.
You could try putting a pan of water in the box then setting a screen top or cookie cooling rack ect over it and the egg on that so its nt touching the water, I think we all understand what your trying to do , we are answeing you the best we know how.

 

[chicken pickin]

She wont know its hers. If she doesnt go broody and sit on the eggs and hatch them herself then the chick you give back to her is I guess in her eyes and intruder and it could possibly get pecked to death.

Sorry I posted at the same time as gabrielle1976

 

[Chloe77]

You've so very much to learn. I'd spend a whole lot more time reading, listening and learning in the "Learning Center", BackYard Chickens provides under the brown tab above.

The fact is that chickens have a strictly ordered society that is structured very differently than a human society or even any mammalian society. If you put a 5 week old chick into a pen of adult birds, the consequences are often life threatening to the chick. The birds see it as an intruder and many times? They'll peck it to death. Certainly, it will be chased, bullied and prevented from eating, drinking and finding rest. Integration is difficult. It can be done, but it appears you've not yet come to understand either the potential challenges nor the possible methods of successful integration.

Again, the BYC administration spent a lot of time writing the Learning Center material. Worth some time spent reading.

I know that introducing a chick to a flock is dangerous for it. But that's not what I meant. What I would do is isolate the mother from the rest of the flock and try to introduce it to her.

And I'll def read the Learning Center text.

 

[Becci]

Quote:
Quote: I'm not failing to understand, you did not provide the information FOR me to understand that. I should have asked more questions before coming to a conclusion, none the less. IF this is the case, why can't you aim to hatch more than one chick for the 'experiment'?
The mother won't take the chicks back because she is not broody - according to the information you've provided through multiple other threads. Being broody is a hormonal change, the hen wants to hatch and raise chicks. She will peck and possibly kill the babies if you try to put them with her.
Isolated or not.

 

[Chloe77]

She wont know its hers. If she doesnt go brody and sit on the eggs and hatch them herself then the chick you give back to her is I guess in her eyes and intruder and it could possibly get pecked to death.

Sorry I posted at the same time asgabrielle1976

Thanks for the info!

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Quote: Fred's Hens is right. The 'mother' will probably attack the chick, and maybe even try to kill it. She has NO IDEA that it is hers, nor does she really care. I don't know if you're expecting some sort of sweet little reunion or what, but that's DEFINITELY NOT what's going to happen. In order for a hen to accept chicks she must go broody, and even then you can't just give her some chicks and expect her to raise them. She wants to hatch the eggs she is sitting on and raise THOSE babies, any other babies are intruders.

Now, if you don't want to buy an incubator a broody hen is probably your best option. In fact, I ONLY use broody hens to hatch eggs, and I find it is much easier because there's no worrying about keeping temp or humidity or any of that. Broody hens don't care if the eggs you give them are theirs or not. I use my Black Australorp to hatch my Quail d'Anver breeding pairs' eggs, because I can pretty much rely on her to be broody at any given time. If you have a hen with a tendency towards broodiness that would be my suggestion.

One chick raised alone is going to be weird it's whole life. It won't really know how to be a normal chicken, and will probably end up at the bottom of the pecking order. I have also noticed that a chick/chicken's will to live when it is sick or injured can be MUCH greater when it is around other chicks/chickens that it is familiar with rather than when it is isolated completely.

PLEASE, do some more reading about integration methods, the pecking order, hatching chicks with and without an incubator, raising chicks, chicken social structure, and broody hens before you attempt this. It seems like your 'plan' is going to be life-threatening to the chick and you REALLY need to do some more research, for the chick's safety if nothing else.

Again, just to make my point, THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER OF THE CHICK WILL NOT ACCEPT IT AND WILL PROBABLY PECK THE CHICK TO DEATH IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

~~Ms.B

ETA: I don't mean to sound harsh, and I hope it does not come off that way. Been a long day and I'm not having a lot of luck trying to communicate my thoughts today. :/

 

[Chloe77]

I understand. That's why I have 2 eggs in my "incubator." 2. Ok? 2 eggs. If two hatch, fine! If 1 hatches, I'm not going to put it out of it's godforsaken misery.

I understand your concern, and it'll be fine. I'll post pics and all, if the venture is even successful.

WHEW

Fred's Hens is right. The 'mother' will probably attack the chick, and maybe even try to kill it. She has NO IDEA that it is hers, nor does she really care. I don't know if you're expecting some sort of sweet little reunion or what, but that's DEFINITELY NOT what's going to happen. In order for a hen to accept chicks she must go broody, and even then you can't just give her some chicks and expect her to raise them. She wants to hatch the eggs she is sitting on and raise THOSE babies, any other babies are intruders.

Now, if you don't want to buy an incubator a broody hen is probably your best option. In fact, I ONLY use broody hens to hatch eggs, and I find it is much easier because there's no worrying about keeping temp or humidity or any of that. Broody hens don't care if the eggs you give them are theirs or not. I use my Black Australorp to hatch my Quail d'Anver breeding pairs' eggs, because I can pretty much rely on her to be broody at any given time. If you have a hen with a tendency towards broodiness that would be my suggestion.

One chick raised alone is going to be weird it's whole life. It won't really know how to be a normal chicken, and will probably end up at the bottom of the pecking order. I have also noticed that a chick/chicken's will to live when it is sick or injured can be MUCH greater when it is around other chicks/chickens that it is familiar with rather than when it is isolated completely.

PLEASE, do some more reading about integration methods, the pecking order, hatching chicks with and without an incubator, raising chicks, chicken social structure, and broody hens before you attempt this. It seems like your 'plan' is going to be life-threatening to the chick and you REALLY need to do some more research, for the chick's safety if nothing else.

Again, just to make my point, THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER OF THE CHICK WILL NOT ACCEPT IT AND WILL PROBABLY PECK THE CHICK TO DEATH IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

~~Ms.B

ETA: I don't mean to sound harsh, and I hope it does not come off that way. Been a long day and I'm not having a lot of luck trying to communicate my thoughts today. :/

Listen, you may be tired, but I'm asking for advice here, not a tantrum.

1. If you had read the text above, you would have seen that I do not intend to let the chick be beaten to death.

2. This is not about "reunions" or "other dippy etc." This is an experiment.

3. I'm doing TWO eggs.

4. Don't accuse me of being "selfish" with my chickens. My chickens are the most spoiled in the vicinity.

5. Ease up on the insults.

6. And I am KNOW about the pecking order, etc.

OK!

 

[Chloe77]

Oh, yeah, it does come off that way.

Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean you treat me like a 2 year old.

 

[ozexpat]

When you ask for advice - you may not always like the answer.

Go and wrap your eggs in wet paper, heat them up and sit back and relax. Let us know how it turns out please.

Go forth and prosper!