Hi everyone. I'm a new chicken keeper. I bought chicks from Tractor Supply Spring of 2021. I have a flock of 15 hens made up of 4 Buff Orpington, 3 Jersey Giant, 3 Light Brahams, 3 Leghorn, 1 Barred Rock, 1 RI Red, 1 Buff Orpington Rooster (the boss), 1 Light Brahma Rooster (he runs from boss, but mates with hens every chance he gets). I'm having such fun with them. One Buff Orpington decided to go broody. She sat on eggs for 2 weeks, then switched (I think) to another nesting box and those eggs were removed. We found half grown chicks.
She then sat on another bunch of eggs .. and low and behold, 4 chicks hatched! I moved the momma with 6 eggs and 4 chicks inside in my tubs I used to raise the first batch. Mom is sitting diligently. I bring finely chopped broccoli in a shallow cat dish and mom clucks to the chicks, they come running and feeds them. She's a dedicated mom. Chicks are doing great. I have medicated chick feed for them. Mom is eating chick feed as well, and I bring treats for her.
I read about staggered hatching. I have no idea when the other 6 eggs she's sitting on were laid.
She seems content to sit on the eggs, the babies run around, eat, and snuggle under her.
I bought an incubator -- should I incubate the eggs, and put mom and chicks back outside in a seperated area in the coop with the flock, then when those eggs hatch, put them in with her? Or, should I keep everyone inside until the 6 eggs hatch?
I handled the mom since she was young, she's not aggressive with me. I pet her, bring her food, she seems happy as things are. I know at some point she needs to go with the chicks back to the flock. I'm in upstate NY, the weather is in the 30s. My coop is well buit and insulated (I converted a shed with a concrete floor). I have an oil-filled heater I could put out there with them in the separate area.
I'm thrilled to have a broody who is being such a good mom. I'd like to raise more chicks like this.
What should I do? Any suggestions?
She then sat on another bunch of eggs .. and low and behold, 4 chicks hatched! I moved the momma with 6 eggs and 4 chicks inside in my tubs I used to raise the first batch. Mom is sitting diligently. I bring finely chopped broccoli in a shallow cat dish and mom clucks to the chicks, they come running and feeds them. She's a dedicated mom. Chicks are doing great. I have medicated chick feed for them. Mom is eating chick feed as well, and I bring treats for her.
I read about staggered hatching. I have no idea when the other 6 eggs she's sitting on were laid.
She seems content to sit on the eggs, the babies run around, eat, and snuggle under her.
I bought an incubator -- should I incubate the eggs, and put mom and chicks back outside in a seperated area in the coop with the flock, then when those eggs hatch, put them in with her? Or, should I keep everyone inside until the 6 eggs hatch?
I handled the mom since she was young, she's not aggressive with me. I pet her, bring her food, she seems happy as things are. I know at some point she needs to go with the chicks back to the flock. I'm in upstate NY, the weather is in the 30s. My coop is well buit and insulated (I converted a shed with a concrete floor). I have an oil-filled heater I could put out there with them in the separate area.
I'm thrilled to have a broody who is being such a good mom. I'd like to raise more chicks like this.
What should I do? Any suggestions?