How long sitting!

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Hi all

My broody Sussex has been sat on one egg for 20days now, I think they is somebody in it! How long after 21days should I leave the egg for her to sit?
Also she's in a nest box in the main coop, once the chick hatches(fingers crossed) will it upset her if I move her to a coop of her own with her and the chick?
Is it also advised to put a heat lamp inside the coop or will her sitting on the chick be okay. We have a frost in England at the mo, not sure how long its gonna last but wish it'd go away coz its bloody freezing!!!!!

Any help to any of the questions would be welcome as this is my first naturally hatch.

Thank you

 

[ck-newbe]

Hi. I also have a broody hen that has been sitting for 20 days. I found this site to be helpful.

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

I have had a heat lamp over my hens nesting area for the last couple of nights. It is currently 27 degrees F with about 1 inch of snow on the ground this morning.

I think it would be safe to move your broody hen and chick once it hatches, but I am just guessing. This is also my first time with a natural hatch.

Good luck!

 

[Lollipop]

Mamma supplies all the heat they need and no lamp is needed, even in the temps you mention. It's fine to move mom and chick after the hatch, but be sure the chick has dried and be carefull that mom doesn't crush the chick when you move them. She won't like it, but she will settle right down. If the egg doesn't hatch, get rid of it on day 26.....Pop

 

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Thank you for your reply and the information......Good Luck with your hatch, hope all goes well

 

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Thank you for your reply, Ive been hummin and rrrring all day with what would be best. I will take your advice and once hatched and dried will move mum and baby to their own coop. If no hatch after 26th day I'll get rid.

Thanks again!

 

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Hi all

Just a quick update on my egg, well its 23rd day today and no signs of pipping, I candled the egg and they was alot of space to say how old it was but they was a shadow. I decided to take the egg away. Poor Saphina still sat in the nest even tho they is no egg!

I cracked the egg open and it was fertile, the embryo may have been 6-7days old before it died.

Am treating it all as a learn curve so hopefully we'll try again in Spring when its abit warmer.

 

[Fly Be Free]

Awww. Sorry to hear that. It's so sad when they're so intent on being a Momma. In my early years I didn't know how to candle and I cracked one thinking it was old and it wasn't. The baby passed in my hands. I was so freaked.

 

[chloezoebob101]

this summer i had three black chickens wanting to brood. two bantams and one big. they all hatched one bantam egg( probably because we have a bantam rooster). two roos and one hen. they are so cute now! i love my little chicks!

 

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Ho noooooooooooo! thats terrible.......Thats one thing I hope never happens to me, I check and double check. But I bet it does happen alot as we can't always be right.... Bet your the worlds best candler now!!

 

[Sommalincolne Bantie Roo]

Ho noooooooooooo! thats terrible.......Thats one thing I hope never happens to me, I check and double check. But I bet it does happen alot as we can't always be right.... Bet your the worlds best candler now!!

This post is for Fly Be Free