June Hatch-A-Long

[FortCluck]

They’ll get out easy and won’t go back. Momma will pick a corner of the coop most likely and keep them on the ground.

Ok so the mom won’t let them starve or dehydrate? That’s good to know. Now I feel like a jerk taking those 2 away. There’s a million more to hatch though.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

@CluckNDoodle or anyone who’s dealt with broodies... my nesting boxes are about a foot off the ground. How will the chicks get in and out? I know I probably sound stupid

They’ll get out easy and won’t go back. Momma will pick a corner of the coop most likely and keep them on the ground.

Yep, usually once they all leave a nest with loft they don't try to go back. Mom will find a new safe place or just hunker down as their umbrella.

Usually I try to move a broody and her eggs in the first week of sitting to a large or XL dog crate on the floor and build the bedding up to the lip like a ramp. Once hatch occurs, and when given a choice, the mom will opt to go back in the nest for the night if the chicks can manage. Being able to shut the door to the crate after everyone is in for the night is useful in a barnyard setting where there is a concern for unsavory night visitors.

In cases where I could not move a broody before hatch, I try to provide a safe cubby hole on the floor for mom to use and they usually do.

 

[FortCluck]

Yep, usually once they all leave a nest with loft they don't try to go back. Mom will find a new safe place or just hunker down as their umbrella.

Usually I try to move a broody and her eggs in the first week of sitting to a large or XL dog crate on the floor and build the bedding up to the lip like a ramp. Once hatch occurs, and when given a choice, the mom will opt to go back in the nest for the night if the chicks can manage. Being able to shut the door to the crate after everyone is in for the night is useful in a barnyard setting where there is a concern for unsavory night visitors.

In cases where I could not move a broody before hatch, I try to provide a safe cubby hole on the floor for mom to use and they usually do.

I didn’t want to move them once they sat. We have 4 and they’re all safe in our nesting boxes. The other chickens went and laid in another coop. We have 6 so they have their options.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Cuteness.

 

[jolenesdad]

Ok so the mom won’t let them starve or dehydrate? That’s good to know. Now I feel like a jerk taking those 2 away. There’s a million more to hatch though.

No, but she will abandon the later hatching eggs after a day or so. So it’s a catch 22, if theyve been set on different days you have to take the earliest hatchers.

You can give those back after more hatch, too, if you want.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@CluckNDoodle or anyone who’s dealt with broodies... my nesting boxes are about a foot off the ground. How will the chicks get in and out? I know I probably sound stupid

They’ll get out easy and won’t go back. Momma will pick a corner of the coop most likely and keep them on the ground.

Yep, what jolenesdad said. I have my boxes on the floor so I don't have this issue. The biggest problem I hear about this is the chicks will jump out of the boxes before the broody is ready to leave the hatching eggs, the chick is then left cold and exposed to the rest of the flock without protection if you don't have her separated.

 

[FortCluck]

Yep, what jolenesdad said. I have my boxes on the floor so I don't have this issue. The biggest problem I hear about this is the chicks will jump out of the boxes before the broody is ready to leave the hatching eggs, the chick is then left cold and exposed to the rest of the flock without protection if you don't have her separated.

I’ll grab ones if they jump and put them in my brooder. I’m home all the time

 

[FortCluck]

No, but she will abandon the later hatching eggs after a day or so. So it’s a catch 22, if theyve been set on different days you have to take the earliest hatchers.

You can give those back after more hatch, too, if you want.

Ok I’ll do that. If they abandon eggs the bator is ready for them

 

[Oldhallchicks]

So I’m going to be setting 6 eggs from the guy who sent is a batch where only 1/6 eggs has made it (so far) to day 8.

Is it a terrible idea to set this cheap incubator (turned off) in the larger incubator for a few days while the others hatch?

it doesn’t seem to be able to get warm enough and I’m worried about relying on it. But thought that it might protect the second batch of eggs while the others are hatching....

or another idea I had was setting the egg tray in there with this microwave cover (I would clean and sterilise it first lol) on top so it lets them breathe a bit more? They will be only be on day 3 or so of incubation when the others go into lockdown, and they’ll be shipped so not turning them for a few days probably isn’t the worst thing. Also thinking the humidity shouldn’t be too much of an issue that early on, I just don’t want them to get knocked around.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I just lost a chick that was zipping out when a trio of wet wobbly hatchlings bashed it against the side of the bator. What I did (and was awake all night in order to do this) was whenever one hatched I'd nab it and the eggshell before the others could get knocked around and put the new hatchling, sans shell, in a tupperware dish so baby could stretch it's legs a little and the other eggs were safe.
I don't see why you couldn't do the same, or the reverse with the eggs in a dish.