mama hen questions

[lilbirdee]

I've had my BO setting on eggs her first time. On day 17 she up and decided that she was done with it! So fortunately (?) I had another hen that had been broody for a few days and I stuck her on the nest. Tomorrow is day 20. Don't know if mama #1 was off the nest too long for the eggs to hatch, it could have been a few hours & they were cold. So if they do hatch, will mama #2 be okay with them after only 4-5 days of setting? The other concern that I have is that she is a Welsummer and I have read a lot about them being awful mothers.
Anyone have any experience with this situation or Welsummer mothers? I'm getting really nervous!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I had a Welsummer broody hatch out some breeder silkie eggs for me, and she only sat on them for 2 weeks, since I had them in the incubator for the first week.

Coincidentally, she went broody at the same time I purchased them. So I figured that she had already sat on fake eggs for one week - time to entrust her with my nice eggs.

She was a wonderful mother.

 

[lilbirdee]

Thanks...that gives me hope that this may turn out alright.

 

[lilbirdee]

Picked up one of the eggs this morning and held it to my ear...DEFINITELY a live chick in there!!! I want to watch that nest, but I feel that I should leave mama alone. Keeping my fingers crossed that she does the "good mother" thing.

 

[naughtyhens]

Why do Welsummers have such a bad rep? Where does this come from? My hen has been sitting for five weeks-one on fake eggs and four on fertile eggs that did not hatch.

I'm going to try and stick some chicks under her this week.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:

a baby!! a baby!!!