I wrote before about two bantam hens that are sitting on eggs. Well, it's been since August 2, but today I have a baby chick under one of the moms. I had removed all my roosters from their pen, with the exception of one, long time ago. My question: I have a large cage set up that I can move my nesting boxes, plus hens, and eggs into. Should I do it now? Or should I just leave them in the big cage with the 4 other chickens (3 other hens and 1 rooster)?
I would want to move them now, but then the hens might stop being broody....I'm not sure...I think the mom will protect the chicks from the other hens and rooster so you could leave them longer...wait for someone with a more definitive answer...and congrats on the baby chick! ~Rebecca
If you can move the whole box, chicken, eggs babys and all, you should do that, to complete the hatch.Usually if you can move their original nest box with them it is ok. Sometimes the non broody hens will kill the babies. For example, my broody hens have been setting on guinea eggs all summer. I give them eggs, let them set on them for approx 23 days then move to hatcher. this last batch I forgot to take them away in time, and they started to hatch. I found 2 on the floor dead, all bloody and pecked.
I have done it both ways. After loosing chicks to other hens I now move my broody and her eggs long before hatching day. Bantam cochins are pretty good at sticking with their clutch even when moved. At this point you may want to take the chicks that hatch and put them in a brooder until the other eggs hatch if they were not all set the same day. The hen will abandon any eggs not hatched after 2 or 3 days to take care of her chicks. When all viable eggs have hatched, move the hen to a secure place and reunite her with her chicks. It may all work out leaving them just as they are but I no longer take the chance.
Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated. I'm going to move everybody tomorrow. But I don't have a brooder to put the chick in, so I'll just hope for the best regarding the rest of the eggs.
The best way to move her would be to do it at night while she is sleeping. I've had the best luck doing it this way. PEACE
I got my one hen, chick, & eggs moved. So far, so good. Now my second hen has an egg that has started hatching. Can I move this second hen, and her eggs, into the same cage I have the first one in? Or will the two hens & their babies not get along? Also, the first hen, after the first chick (only one so far) hatched, pooped all over a couple of the eggs in the nest. When I moved them all, I cleaned them off as best I could. It's been 3 days now and nothing else has hatched. Is this usual? I've put medicated chick starter in the cage. Will the mother take the baby out to show her how to eat and drink? Is there anything else I should be doing??? Thanks!