June to July hatch-a-long!!!

[Cyprus]

If anyone wants to run an experiment, I have a crap ton of bantam eggs sitting around. Some old, some fresh. I can date them, ship them and buyer records how it goes. Hmu if interested.

 

[BreanneRN]

Well I set my eggs last night and went to check on them this morning and something got in my coop a d ate the eggs know I dont know what to do

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss... Raccoons and skunks will do that. And snakes, too, if you have any of those big rat snakes... Time to get rid of all those, ! A lot of people use electric netting. It is particularly hard to protect the coop against snakes, as they require such small openings. Hope your hen is alright, at least...

 

[Cyprus]

Well I set my eggs last night and went to check on them this morning and something got in my coop a d ate the eggs know I dont know what to do

Again, I strongly suggest putting your broodies in a much more secure place. A cheap cat carrier is seriously fine. They don't need a lot of space.

 

[chickenmama109]

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss... Raccoons and skunks will do that. And snakes, too, if you have any of those big rat snakes... Time to get rid of all those, ! A lot of people use electric netting. It is particularly hard to protect the coop against snakes, as they require such small openings. Hope your hen is alright, at least...

Thank you, yes I have all those unfortunately

 

[BreanneRN]

Thank you, yes I have all those unfortunately

So is your hen alright and still broody?

 

[Knighstar679]

I finally got some eggs to hatch. 4th of July babies, so I am still working up names that are themed with the holiday.





I am looking at trying two more sets of eggs. Black East Indie if I can get them the the other is a debate between more Welsh Harlequin or Muscovy ducks. I like them both for coloring, but welsh do more eggs and Muscovy are better broody and at protecting themselves. So torn.

 

[chickenmama109]

So is your hen alright and still broody?

Yes thankfully, they just Took her eggs from her, but I dont have anywhere to separate her. And I dont want to take her inside to wear the flock cant see her. She is already very low in the pecking order

 

[BreanneRN]

Yes thankfully, they just Took her eggs from her, but I dont have anywhere to separate her. And I dont want to take her inside to wear the flock cant see her. She is already very low in the pecking order

Maybe go with the cat carrier, as suggested by Cyprus? These can be found for reasonable on Amazon, but even cheaper used (Craigslist, classified, thrift stores, facebook, garage sale), sometimes even free. Sometimes they may need a little rehab, but everyone has assorted nuts and bolts laying around. Your broody will only get up once a day, and the cat carrier will allow you to secure her and her eggs at night. With the cat carrier, you could even move her to a more secure location at night, then back to the coop during the day.

 

[BreanneRN]

@chickenmama109, You might even be able to borrow a cat carrier from someone you know... Most of them sit around unused most of the time, in the way. Only need it when the cat gets sick... Tell them you only need it for 21 days and will clean it before returning. Chickens don't poop in their nest, so it won"t need much clean up. After hatching, you can build a secure place for mother and babies or borrow a big dog crate. They sit around unused most of the time too. I brood all my chicks in large dog crates because I have cats, so can't use those open topped things. Bottom line, if it can keep things in, it can keep things out. Cat crate is secure against fox, skunk, possum. Airline quality dog crate, secure against those and coyotes and wolves. As long as you don't have bears visit, you're good!

 

[BreanneRN]

Well, now it is Sunday! Only a few days to go for Azul and her big nest of eggs... I am getting nervous now... Have urge to put some of them in the incubator so they will be safe... And chicks can be returned to mom after hatch... I am thinking that is 2 weeks worth of eggs from my 2 EE hens. When she gets off the nest today I think I will use my stethoscope to see if I hear any noise in them. Also listening to hear if she is talking to them at all...