I had three hens sitting on nests. I labeled the eggs with the date each started. I wrote down the dates in the house. My notes showed that two clutches were set to hatch last Thursday. One hen had an egg broken about a week ago and the other two were mostly covered with goop. I wiped them off, cleaned Mama up and crossed my fingers.
So, Thursday comes and Icy has four cuties under her of her five eggs. Esther has none from her two eggs. I felt so bad for her because she lost her last babies to a cat.
I went to TSC and got a few babies. We put three under her. She accepted them right away, but still won't leave the nest. I checked the eggs and guess what? They aren't due to hatch until NEXT Thursday!
The babies are getting out of the nest to eat and drink and go back to mom to get warm. One was missing this morning and I couldn't find it, or a body anywhere. Later, Icy has hers out, learning to scratch and find food. I noticed she now has five, but her last egg never hatched. Esther's third baby must have been crying and couldn't get back in the box. Icy must have called it over and she adopted it.
Should I leave the other babies with Esther while she sets for four or five more days? Would it be cruel to take them away? I felt like such a dummy. Right date on the egg. Wrong date written in the house.
So, Thursday comes and Icy has four cuties under her of her five eggs. Esther has none from her two eggs. I felt so bad for her because she lost her last babies to a cat.
I went to TSC and got a few babies. We put three under her. She accepted them right away, but still won't leave the nest. I checked the eggs and guess what? They aren't due to hatch until NEXT Thursday!
The babies are getting out of the nest to eat and drink and go back to mom to get warm. One was missing this morning and I couldn't find it, or a body anywhere. Later, Icy has hers out, learning to scratch and find food. I noticed she now has five, but her last egg never hatched. Esther's third baby must have been crying and couldn't get back in the box. Icy must have called it over and she adopted it.
Should I leave the other babies with Esther while she sets for four or five more days? Would it be cruel to take them away? I felt like such a dummy. Right date on the egg. Wrong date written in the house.
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