- Thread starter
- #21
Elmochook
Songster
The eggs are always super warm?? And i tried putting straw in there for her and she hated it and wouldn't set on the nest at all...?
Maybe babies!!
- Thread starter Elmochook
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
Elmochook
Songster
Also my next question is if that were true how do they go off into the woods and lay broods of babies in dirt nests?
If you are planning on hatching chicks, there are a few things you need to do.
1. Set up a safe, isolated place where the chicks can hatch with their mama. Because its not a good idea to have baby chicks in with the rest of the flock. Make a nice nest with hay, and put food and water in there too, but be carefully not to put the water to close to the nest.
2. Wait until it is well after dark, then move the eggs into the new nest, and carefully set the hen on top. Since it is nighttime, she shouldn't wake up much. Make sure that as soon as you put her in there, don't shine a flashlight on her, or pick her up, just leave her alone.
3. Go out before morning, and just secretly watch her. If she wakes up all mad, and won't sit, then you may have to put her back. But most of the time, if you move them at dark, they will stay there.
1. Set up a safe, isolated place where the chicks can hatch with their mama. Because its not a good idea to have baby chicks in with the rest of the flock. Make a nice nest with hay, and put food and water in there too, but be carefully not to put the water to close to the nest.
2. Wait until it is well after dark, then move the eggs into the new nest, and carefully set the hen on top. Since it is nighttime, she shouldn't wake up much. Make sure that as soon as you put her in there, don't shine a flashlight on her, or pick her up, just leave her alone.
3. Go out before morning, and just secretly watch her. If she wakes up all mad, and won't sit, then you may have to put her back. But most of the time, if you move them at dark, they will stay there.
It might be...seen folks use flashlight(?) on phone to candle.
Do some searches, find candling threads.
Good advice here.
1)I've had hens brood in February. They do great even if the weather is crappy.
2)Agree. She needs to be isolated. If you have a hen eating eggs I wouldn't trust her not to attack and kill the chicks when they hatch. I've had that happen to a first time broody and her hatch sister. Hatch sister attacked and killed her chicks as soon as they hatched. She actually broke through a wire cage in order to attack the new babies. Don't underestimate their determination. Best advice is to get the broody in an area of her own, secured and away from the rest of the flock.
3) Candling isn't hard. There are guides and how to's here on BYC and on thechickenchick.com site. You should be able to get an idea of the gestational stage. I candle at night. I reach behind the hen and slide out an egg. She will squawk and hiss at you. She may even give you a peck but then settle back down. When I get done candling I put the egg at her breast and while she is busily shuffling it back under her, I quickly reach back behind her and grab another egg. My hens are usually so excited at the prospect of having a 'new' egg to sit on that they don't mind the rear end attack so to speak.
Candling gives you a chance to mark the eggs for air cell development, check for viability and embryo development.
Don't worry, it's not hard. You'll do fine. Contratulations on the broody. Your little girl will do all the work. All you have to do is keep her safe. She is very vulnerable at this time.
1)I've had hens brood in February. They do great even if the weather is crappy.
2)Agree. She needs to be isolated. If you have a hen eating eggs I wouldn't trust her not to attack and kill the chicks when they hatch. I've had that happen to a first time broody and her hatch sister. Hatch sister attacked and killed her chicks as soon as they hatched. She actually broke through a wire cage in order to attack the new babies. Don't underestimate their determination. Best advice is to get the broody in an area of her own, secured and away from the rest of the flock.
3) Candling isn't hard. There are guides and how to's here on BYC and on thechickenchick.com site. You should be able to get an idea of the gestational stage. I candle at night. I reach behind the hen and slide out an egg. She will squawk and hiss at you. She may even give you a peck but then settle back down. When I get done candling I put the egg at her breast and while she is busily shuffling it back under her, I quickly reach back behind her and grab another egg. My hens are usually so excited at the prospect of having a 'new' egg to sit on that they don't mind the rear end attack so to speak.
Candling gives you a chance to mark the eggs for air cell development, check for viability and embryo development.
Don't worry, it's not hard. You'll do fine. Contratulations on the broody. Your little girl will do all the work. All you have to do is keep her safe. She is very vulnerable at this time.
- Thread starter
- #26
Elmochook
Songster
Ok i have the brooder box set up again for her with food and water locked in there waiting on her and this time i put a 5 gallon nesting bucket in there for her so maybe she will like that more than the plain hay i had for her in there... Now to wait for the cover of darkness after work to move her. I dont think i will try to also candle the eggs tonight as its gonna be rainy and moving her and the 2 eggs across the yard safely seems daunting enough for tonight... I will keep all yall posted. Thank you all for your input
- Thread starter
- #27
Elmochook
Songster
Well yall were right, it was so much easier to move her at night. She pecked me once picking her up but went easily into her new nest bucket and cuddled right down on her eggs. I feel like this should go well for her. She can get more food and water easily without her having to worry. Lol
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Great job!
What a sweet little girl! You will have to keep us informed as to how it goes with her and how your first candling goes. I usually don't candle until day 7. Some say wait till day 10 but no way I can do that, LOL! I'm too hands on to wait that long.
- Thread starter
- #29
Elmochook
Songster
She's definitely sweet... Sometimes lol. Shes also pretty feisty. I will keep yall posted i just hope she's happy in the morning when she realizes what happened. Lol
Great job!
What a sweet little girl! You will have to keep us informed as to how it goes with her and how your first candling goes. I usually don't candle until day 7. Some say wait till day 10 but no way I can do that, LOL! I'm too hands on to wait that long.
- Thread starter
- #30
Elmochook
Songster
this was right when the sun came up. She still had food and water so I left her be but i don't know if she will get back on her nest.
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