just had baby chicks

[gottaluvchickens]

Ok on sunday i had 2 baby chicks hatched. They are outside in the coop along with all the other chickens. I have had hens sitting for a few weeks now. my questions are how can i check to see if any more fertile eggs and what do i need to do for my new baby chicks. the moms are very protective. Another question (and its a dumb one), Iknow you have to have a rooster to fertilze the egg but does the hen and rooster need to be the same breed?

 

[Megs]

keep an eye on the new babies being out in the flock with mom, hopefully shes a good broody and will protect them. To check if the eggs under the other hens are fertile you can candle them, usually can be acheived with a powerful flashlight (some tape a toilet paper roll on to the flashlight if its a big one, and set the egg on the end) if they have been sitting for a few weeks you should see most of the egg is very dark (if a chick is forming) and one end has a "air sack" so is clear. if the eggs are clear they were not fertile so did not develop. they need not be the same breed to succesfully mate

ETA: to candle the eggs it must be dark so you can see into the egg! pitch black is best, i candle at night.