new to hatching

[Fricasee]

Hello,

One of my chickens went broody a few months ago and has been persistent about it. I rehomed my two roosters and did not have any fertilized eggs for her to sit on so one of my roo's adopted mom's gave me a fertilized egg for Henny to sit on. I put it under her the day before Thanksgiving. I candled it yesterday morning and I can clearly see something developing in there and from the pics I've looked at on Google it's pretty far progressed.

I'm wondering when I might expect a hatch (if it's successful)....and what do I need to do to prepare for the baby? She's in the coop with the rest of the hens. Should I move her to a maternity nesting area that is separate from the rest of the hens? If it's a yes, should I do it before she hatches or after? The nest is off the ground by about two feet but the floor of the coop has about a 10 inches thick bed of straw. I'm a bit worried about the baby falling and getting hurt. Or...should I move baby inside and care for it myself? I have no good place to move them both inside.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Chicks typically hatch at 21 days, sometimes more or less. Be sure to keep the mom and baby in a separate enclosure from the other chickens, you should try moving them now. you can feed them both chick starter. Be sure to get a chick waterer or put pebbles in the water so the baby can't drown. You shouldn't need extra heat as mom will provide that. Everything else, the mom should take care of for you.

 

[Fricasee]

Is it 21 days from being laid or from the time she started to sit on it? I will move Henny and egg when I get home tonight. I put up windbreak in the brooder yesterday afternoon to prepare. I have a little carrier in there for them to nest in too. I have the feeders and waterers from the chicks I raised this spring. Need to buy chick starter though. I only have pellets. I'm so excited!!!!

 

[Miss717]

21 days from when she started sitting on it.

 

[Fricasee]

Thank you. The chick hatched! I found baby under mom this morning. I tried to move mom and egg a few days ago and it upset mom so much that I just moved her back. I was afraid she'd abandon the egg. I tried again this morning when I found the new baby to move them both to the brooder and it upset mom so much. She found the baby so that was good but then she started to peck at the poor little thing and in trying to get situated she was stomping around and stepping on it so I just gave up and moved them back to the original nest where she settled right in and they were fine when I left for work. I am still worried because the nest is not at ground level and if the baby wanders out and ends up on the floor that he cannot make it back to safety and warmth of mama. I'm leaning towards bringing the baby indoors and raise him myself. I don't want to break mama's heart though. Hard decision.......