I've never had babies before

[Iluvmychickens]

Hello Everyone,

I am awaiting the arrival of 9 baby chicks. They are due Sunday 09/03/07. It will be day 21.

1. How to I prepare for the blessed event?

2. What do I do?

3. What will my hen do?

4. Do I need to move her and the chicks to a safe place away from my other Hen?

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
DeeDee

 

[silkiechicken]

You just make sure the babies can't be snached up by predators and that should be good. Put out a chick waterer and chick feed with the momma hen and she will teach the babies how to eat and drink. She will probably sit on the nest for a few more days after the first start to hatch, and she will take it from there. Just make sure the babies can't get out of fencing and cant get back in etc. As for the other hen, it is usually the best to keep her away but your mom hen should take care of the chicks and protect it from the other one. Sounds like you have only two so it might be more stress on the single hen if you take the momma and her chicks away. Oh... and as a side note, don't count chicks till after they hatch.

 

[skeeter9]

Just another thought - if the nest is up off of the ground you will need to move mama and eggs to a ground level nest before they hatch or the babies will fall out - speaking from experience!!!.

Lori

 

[Iluvmychickens]

Thank you both for all the info. Her nest is actually 1 foot off the ground. I would of never thought to lower it. Again I appreciate ya'lls help

DeeDee