June 2015 Hatch A Long HAL

[MesMama]

Hi! I'm Morgan and a first time chicken owner and this is my first time hatching

At least I HOPE there will be hatching! I *think* I have two broody BO hens, they've been in the boxes for two days now. They are a little over a year old. I am so nervous! LOL! I wasn't even sure I wanted to deal with broody's but after reading a few threads on here I've decided to just let nature take it's course and see what happens. I started a thread with some questions, basically wondering if I should move them, feeding them etc. I think I may just leave them where they are? My other girls are sweet and Red (my roo) does such a great job keeping watch and is really attentive when any squawking is going on, so I think they will be okay? However I think I am going to get a baby monitor with a video to put in there so that I can keep an eye out? IDK, thoughts?

So IF they are sitting on eggs I have a hatch date of approximately June 21. I'm pretty sure there are eggs under them because when I went to gather eggs the other night there were only half the normal amount (I have 8 hens and normally get 6-8 eggs daily). Should I put more eggs in there with them? And should I shoo them off the nests to let them eat and drink? Or do they do that themselves? I'm so new to this

But the thought of having babies makes me happy!!

And what a fun thread! This is so helpful!

 

[MesMama]

Yikes, i just realized that this thread might be for incubator hatching only?

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

Yikes, i just realized that this thread might be for incubator hatching only? 

Hey MesMama! I don't think that this is a incubator thread, I just think most people use incubators.

Anyway to answer some of your questions, first I would isolate her. When the chicks hatch you don't want any of your chickens to kills the chicks. Plus other hens can push your broody off her nest and lay eggs in there. That could break your broody of her broody ness and will screw with your hatch date. I recommend marking each of her eggs she's sitting on by the date they were layed so you can monitor exact hatch date. If she's been sitting on eggs for at least 2 days now, I wouldn't add more, because when the others hatch, the hen will continue to sit on that one egg that has a few days left to cook instead of caring for her young.

As for food and water, she should get off the best for herself at least once a day to eat and drink. You probably won't see her get off the nest as they only get off for 10 mins top. Shooing her could lead to breaking her of her broody ness.

Also, if you are going to move her do it at night. Moving her could break her of her broody ness.

Happy hatching and good luck!

 

[KeyFlock]

YAY! I love all of the little chicks, they are adorable I just put mine on lockdown, so excited!
@MesMama This thread is for anyone that has chicks hatching in June, so broodies are accepted

 

[Elginchickens]

Just put my baby chicks into lock down this morning wish me luck ...got 11 black sex link eggs from my own flock...just got my black copper maran eggs in from eBay (15) gonna start them when these hatch...hopefully all by Sunday...there due to hatch Saturday

 

[Loc20chick]

n



I had one hatch Sunday...

I have two call ducks due Sunday! Woot woot!

Next crew is due 13th...that is a huge hatch of bantams, Cemani and the peafowl should get an extra week...due 21st!!!

On goodness I better get coop building!!!

This guinea keet hatched in the incubator yesterday. It wasn't supposed to hatch until Friday. It's my first one. I was having the worst luck hatching guineas then I heard loud chirping from the incubator. I'm glad I was home because I would have been upset if it got stuck under the turner.
Little purple guinea keet

cute

 

[muddyhens]

Just a general question for all who use incubators. Do you raise chickens comercially or do you have a high loss ratio? How big are your flocks?

 

[muddyhens]

Thanks. Thats cuz I am a crazy chicken lady. See it gotta have 12! Hatch it and keep them all.

I'll be interested to see if your duck keeps sitting once the chick hatches. I moved my chix eggs out from the duck because I was afraid she wouldn't keep sitting on the duck eggs. Or do you plan ti move babies to a brooder right away?

 

[Purpletie3]

Good luck for those locking down!!! Woot woot!

I am not a commercial farm. I have not counted...somewhere between a few and 200. My flock is young and I will be selling eggs and chicks soon. Hatch rates for me have been zero to 100% on shipped eggs. My EE I hatch 100%...they are very healthy and happy crew!

There are very few commercial ops on here. There are a lot of small hobby farm hatcheries on here...and a whole bunch of chicken lovers with tons of knowledge!

 

[MesMama]

Hey MesMama! I don't think that this is a incubator thread, I just think most people use incubators.

Anyway to answer some of your questions, first I would isolate her. When the chicks hatch you don't want any of your chickens to kills the chicks. Plus other hens can push your broody off her nest and lay eggs in there. That could break your broody of her broody ness and will screw with your hatch date. I recommend marking each of her eggs she's sitting on by the date they were layed so you can monitor exact hatch date. If she's been sitting on eggs for at least 2 days now, I wouldn't add more, because when the others hatch, the hen will continue to sit on that one egg that has a few days left to cook instead of caring for her young.

As for food and water, she should get off the best for herself at least once a day to eat and drink. You probably won't see her get off the nest as they only get off for 10 mins top. Shooing her could lead to breaking her of her broody ness.

Also, if you are going to move her do it at night. Moving her could break her of her broody ness.

Happy hatching and good luck!

So isolate the broody's now and not wait until they hatch? I'm concerned about moving them and breaking their broodiness by moving them now? Or is that what you mean by moving them at night? Doing it at night won't break the broodiness?

Good to know that the hens will leave the nests to eat and drink and what not, that makes me feel better Thank you so much for your advice!