Maine

[lazy gardener]

I've got one Dom hen sitting on the nest tonight, and eggs in the bator... due to hatch next Wed. Any one had success doing a foster placement? Suggestions? If I do try to foster them, should I give her a couple so they can hatch under her, then place the rest, or some of the rest of the chicks under her after they've hatched? Too soon? Too risky for a first time broody???

 

[CoopChick719]

Yes, it would be awfully difficult to not see turkey eggs in the incubator on the kitchen table for 4 weeks Likely just a full crop.

Thought maybe you had a turkey egg sneak in with the chicks!

If you want to be totally flipped out by nodules, you should get a turken. Mine often look like they're in a golf ball smuggling ring.

WOW!! This would freak me out having never seen turkey chicks!

I've got one Dom hen sitting on the nest tonight, and eggs in the bator... due to hatch next Wed. Any one had success doing a foster placement? Suggestions? If I do try to foster them, should I give her a couple so they can hatch under her, then place the rest, or some of the rest of the chicks under her after they've hatched? Too soon? Too risky for a first time broody???

You can never tell how they will react. I switched eggs for chicks under my 2 broodies one time. The 2nd time momma pecked any chick she could see. The first time momma was great!! And she was the one I was worried about! She took all 4 chicks no problem. I had to separate them from the other broody. she didn't want them but apparently didn't want anyone else to have them either. My advice would be watch them carefully and be prepared with alternative brooding plan.

 

[lazy gardener]

Been running back and forth from garden to coop all day. One hen is flirting with being broody, and the others are harassing her. May set her up in the old coop so she can be alone with her hormones. Jack the roo is taking her condition seriously. He's also been spending a lot of time sitting in the nest box!

 

[Tony K T]

My cuckoo Marans came.

So had to move them into a larger brooder.

These chicks are much too young to be outside yet,They look to be maybe 2 weeks old at most?They should be in 90 degree temps.If you notice in the last pic they are huddling together,this means they are cold.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[Cknldy]

They just got them so 3 days old. Maybe moved the whole set up inside after some outside time in the sun

They look nice and healthy. Congrats!

 

[Tony K T]

That is a drastic change in temps for chicks going from a 99.5 degree incubator to a 60 degree day.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[Cknldy]

Broody mommas don't stay on their chicks all day long. Check out the broody hen thread- it's pretty awesome. When I first started out I went "by the book" but over the years I've learned to just watch the chicks for what they need. We try to imitate nature and then in time we think we're better than nature. Just gotta go back to nature sometimes. Don't worry, be happy

 

[Cknldy]

And shipped chicks get no additional heat during shipping yet they survive.

 

[Mainechick168]

Hey Everyone, I'm trying to track down some Chanteclers- I'm hoping one of my gals will go broody soon, so hatching eggs would be great!

 

[lazy gardener]

Not only that, but the plastic would have a green house effect. Tony, it's good that you're concerned about folks not providing typical brooding situations 24/7, but chicks actually thrive when exposed to different temperatures. I had my littles out scratching in a similar situation at 3 days old. They did great for a couple of hours then went inside to their heating pad brooder. They are now just over 3 weeks old, and not spending much time under the heating pad, living in the outdoor coop.