Incubate? Plz help!

[backyardflock1]

Once they hatch, should we bring them in or leave them in with the hen?

 

[PrairieChickens]

Leave them with the hen. She will be able to keep them plenty warm.

 

[bittychicks]

So I should wait to introduce the chicks to everyone but let the hen meet them early on so she gets to know them and will eventually care for them?

If they hatch in the incubator you're more then likely going to have to brood them yourself, and when they are old enough to be without the heat lamp introduce them to the flock. If they hatch under her she can raise them. It might be possible to hatch them in the incubator and then somehow trick her into thinking she hatched them, but I do not know how well that would work out. If you are hatching your own eggs, I would let her do it because even if she fails it did not cost you anything.

 

[red horse ranch]

Many times I have incubated eggs to hatch at the same time as my broody hen. When the incubated chick is thoroughly dry and moving around I will put it under the hen with the rest of her chicks. This works best at night and be careful that the chick doesn't get chilled in the process. She won't know which chicks were hers and which were incubated. If you wait until the chicks are older I've found that they probably won't accept each other.

 

[backyardflock1]

i'll put non-fertile eggs in tomorrow to test if she truly is broody.

 

[backyardflock1]

I'm going to pick up a Australorp chick now. My want list- Barred Rocks, Buff Orphington, Silkie and Australorps

 

[red horse ranch]

The Australorp chickens are my all-time favorite. They are great layers and seem to live forever. My 7 yr old hen laid an egg for me yesterday!

 

[backyardflock1]

are they good pet chickens? Friendly?

 

[red horse ranch]

Absolutely! Peep is 7 yrs old and still thinks she should live in the house with us. All of my Australorps have been friendly and very easy to make pets of.
Very easy to handle when they go broody which is very important to me. And most of mine have gone broody before a year old. They make good mothers if
you let them.

 

[backyardflock1]

Thanks for the reply! . Sadly I wasn't able to go today due to the 1 1/2 hour drive and they close at 4. I will go tomorrow though