moving eggs from incubator to broody hen

[Atlchick]

My silkie can't count. She sat on one egg for 21 days and there were 3 little fluffybutts underneath her on the morning of the 22nd day. Two were adopted and a week old already. She's was thrilled!

 

[MIKE555444]

Will the Momma teach the babies to be afraid of you since she is game? Maybe that doen't matter?

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Yes, momma hens teach the babies to be scared of you. That's part of why I take them back after a few weeks. But she also teaches them good survival instincts for hawks and such, too, when they go outside.

 

[digitalsniper]

I figure once she hatches them out and starts raising them, ill spend enough time with them to change their mind. I just dont want the aggrevation of having to hand raise them as new hatches. Last time with 12 of them it was more than i bargained for. I had bought 8 law grey eggs and put in the incubator but only one was fertile. At the same time I found a clutch of a dozen eggs the hens had found, so i tossed them in the incubator with the law greys and about 9 of them have developed. More than i want, but i figured what the heck. We will find out in the next week what she does. lol

 

[digitalsniper]

well i went out to check on my broody today and she raised her hackles at me as i put a chick watering can in there and a chick feeder. I could hear peeps under her (dont know if its just one or more) but as soon as i stepped back she started eating the chick feed and clucking, but i never saw a baby pop out.

How long will one survive without water under her? hehe Maybe i need to grab one after work and teach it how to drink to be on the safe side.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Bout 3 days till they need to start eating. They can go a bit longer, 2 or 3 days after that.

 

[digitalsniper]

well she has hatched out 6 of the little fellas. lol. They were eating out of the chick dish this morning and stopped to stare at me. Ive been going in and petting her alot. I might actually tame her alittle before this is over.
The one black one i have no idea what it is. The roo is a red game cock, the eggs were from banded barrs, amaracauana (sp), and the broody game hen. But he is TINY, not sure how he got runt status so quick.

 

[wegotchickens]

Awesome!!

 

[MIKE555444]

Awww

 

[digitalsniper]

Her box is a couple of feet off the ground. Theres a 2" board in the front to keep eggs from rolling out. Should i move her nest to the ground so the chicks dont fall out? Or will she push them from the box eventually