I debated what section to put this in- hope I was right.
I have a broody turken in my small coop with several other hens. She has been sitting for about 30 days.It took me about a week to get fertile eggs for her. I have four eggs under her and three in the incubator. I know only one- if that- is any good. i haven't candled it in two weeks because she gets so upset if I reach under her.
The three in my incubator are ready to hatch. One is pipping.
When do I put the chicks under her?Night time? Also, I have no way, due to space within the coop, to fence her and the babies off. Will my other hens kill the babies (that is probably a no-brainer- I'm sure they will try to peck them.) That said, if I move new mom and babies to another place- I have an empty rabbit hutch I can use- will she still take care of the babies? Should I put the babies under her in the coop for a couple days before moving her?
The weather is going to be really cold and nasty here next week- my coop is heated. I could rig a heat lamp toward the rabbit hutch (three of my hens lay eggs in that hutch- they will be so mad when/if I close it off).
Now that it is time for action, I am thoroughly confused as to how to proceed from here.
I have a broody turken in my small coop with several other hens. She has been sitting for about 30 days.It took me about a week to get fertile eggs for her. I have four eggs under her and three in the incubator. I know only one- if that- is any good. i haven't candled it in two weeks because she gets so upset if I reach under her.
The three in my incubator are ready to hatch. One is pipping.
When do I put the chicks under her?Night time? Also, I have no way, due to space within the coop, to fence her and the babies off. Will my other hens kill the babies (that is probably a no-brainer- I'm sure they will try to peck them.) That said, if I move new mom and babies to another place- I have an empty rabbit hutch I can use- will she still take care of the babies? Should I put the babies under her in the coop for a couple days before moving her?
The weather is going to be really cold and nasty here next week- my coop is heated. I could rig a heat lamp toward the rabbit hutch (three of my hens lay eggs in that hutch- they will be so mad when/if I close it off).
Now that it is time for action, I am thoroughly confused as to how to proceed from here.