New Member - Questions about hatching

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Farmer Connie said:
When I hatch w/broody hen, I try to control the whole process. Right now I have 2 hardcore broody Gold lace dots. Stubborn ladies. In the evenings I lock out the population and remove the 2 broody's from their boxes. Place them in front of separate food dishes and waters (or they will fight).
3 night's ago I labeled and placed 9 dated fertile eggs in each of their nests. Clearly marked an "X" & an "O" on opposite sides to monitor the rotations. Each night, I repeat my chuck em out of the boxes procedure. Rotating the eggs if necessary, clean any poo etc. I remove any new additional eggs to prevent a staggered hatch.
Upon day 20-21, I have had a make shift brooder staged in my home on stand by-ready and prepped. I am now in control of the date of hatch as well as being around to snatch them out of the nest as soon as they crack open and pop out chirping. I have an old school baby monitor that helps me know when another is ready to break out or is out.
In the past, by letting mother nature and the hen control the process, I was lucky to have a 25 - 40% survival rate. By me being in control, I'm pretty much saving almost every chick that unzips.
In a perfect world where it is the most beautiful thing to experience- being a proud Hen walking her offspring around, has only happened twice in the years I have been know as the wacky chicken lady. Far greater times I have dug holes around my rose bushes to fertilize the flowers.
So here in about 18 days, I will be removing all the hatched chicks once again- 1 by 1. The safest way I know to insure a successful hatch.
I will be selling off the offspring. If I do keep any, I will provide separate quarters for them for about 4 months. I like to wait until the become equally large and strong willed before I throw them into population. And when I do. I'm there to monitor any savage rejections.
Chickens can be vicious. For being so low on the food chain, you would think they would be much higher if they treated predators the way they treat other chickens.
That's my 2 cents for the day. I emptied my pockets.
Good luck with your hatching endeavors.
Best regards,
-em connie
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:thumbsup
 
Farmer Connie said:
When I hatch w/broody hen, I try to control the whole process. Right now I have 2 hardcore broody Gold lace dots. Stubborn ladies. In the evenings I lock out the population and remove the 2 broody's from their boxes. Place them in front of separate food dishes and waters (or they will fight).
3 night's ago I labeled and placed 9 dated fertile eggs in each of their nests. Clearly marked an "X" & an "O" on opposite sides to monitor the rotations. Each night, I repeat my chuck em out of the boxes procedure. Rotating the eggs if necessary, clean any poo etc. I remove any new additional eggs to prevent a staggered hatch.
Upon day 20-21, I have had a make shift brooder staged in my home on stand by-ready and prepped. I am now in control of the date of hatch as well as being around to snatch them out of the nest as soon as they crack open and pop out chirping. I have an old school baby monitor that helps me know when another is ready to break out or is out.
In the past, by letting mother nature and the hen control the process, I was lucky to have a 25 - 40% survival rate. By me being in control, I'm pretty much saving almost every chick that unzips.
In a perfect world where it is the most beautiful thing to experience- being a proud Hen walking her offspring around, has only happened twice in the years I have been know as the wacky chicken lady. Far greater times I have dug holes around my rose bushes to fertilize the flowers.
So here in about 18 days, I will be removing all the hatched chicks once again- 1 by 1. The safest way I know to insure a successful hatch.
I will be selling off the offspring. If I do keep any, I will provide separate quarters for them for about 4 months. I like to wait until the become equally large and strong willed before I throw them into population. And when I do. I'm there to monitor any savage rejections.
Chickens can be vicious. For being so low on the food chain, you would think they would be much higher if they treated predators the way they treat other chickens.
That's my 2 cents for the day. I emptied my pockets.
Good luck with your hatching endeavors.
Best regards,
-em connie
Click to expand...
The system that you are is using is good to ensure survival of the chicks. I actually just did this with a a broody ameraucana but on lock down day...I moved the eggs to my incubator to finish with a great hatch rate (90%). There's a lot that can go wrong with other birds/animals around and new chicks are so vulnerable...even with a vigilant mother. The chicks are doing nicely (and are safe) in one of my brooders.
 
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I know you'll enjoy it here!!
 

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