New to hatching

[olliek]

First timer here - We had chickens for the last 5 or 6 years. This is the first time I let a broody hen (Blue Cochin) sit on eggs. The Cochin is first time broody. A couple of things that I am unsure about:

• She gets up once or twice a day but when she comes back she has a tendency to go in the wrong nesting box??? She has done it a number of times. I went as far as blocking the other two nesting boxes off on this side. Why would she do that
• How long can she leave the eggs alone without any impact?
• Should we be successful - we have hens (and one rooster) we bought from a hatchery. They are vaccinated and hence getting non-medicated food. If we change to starter feed can we still stay with the non-medicated and if so what are risks to the chicks?
• Other hens keep laying eggs in there and I didn’t mark the initial six do I just let everything runs it’s course here
• Update: seems I got a second broody hen that tries to get into that nesting box. I have shooed her out a couple of times but she keeps coming back. They both sit in there but I can’t really both hatch the same eggs?

Sorry about all these questions!!!

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

She gets up once or twice a day but when she comes back she has a tendency to go in the wrong nesting box??? She has done it a number of times. I went as far as blocking the other two nesting boxes off on this side. Why would she do that

I'm not sure why they do this, mine do it too and it makes me crazy.

How long can she leave the eggs alone without any impact?

Some of mine will leave the nest for 30-60 minutes a day and that does not seem to cause a problem.

Should we be successful - we have hens (and one rooster) we bought from a hatchery. They are vaccinated and hence getting non-medicated food. If we change to starter feed can we still stay with the non-medicated and if so what are risks to the chicks?

Many people don't feed medicated starter, myself included, so I think you will be fine.

Other hens keep laying eggs in there and I didn’t mark the initial six do I just let everything runs it’s course here

Once they start sitting and have sat for 3-5 days I will candle the eggs and remove the ones that don't have veins.

Update: seems I got a second broody hen that tries to get into that nesting box. I have shooed her out a couple of times but she keeps coming back. They both sit in there but I can’t really both hatch the same eggs?

Sometimes multiple hens can hatch a clutch of eggs together, so I think it depends on the hens.

Sorry about all these questions!!!

no need to be sorry, that is what BYC is here for!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[olliek]

Thanks!! Will have read on about candling...

 

[casportpony]

Sorry about all these questions!!!

no need to be sorry, that is what BYC is here for!

Thanks!! Will have read on about candling...

this article has some good info and pictures:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/

 

[IamRainey]

Welcome to BYC!

no need to be sorry [for asking lots of questions], that is what BYC is here for!

So right! And we're all that much more fortunate for getting to ask our questions, share our experiences and learn from one another!!!!

Welcome and thanks to everyone here!

 

[olliek]

So a practical question because I have just no clue..

I have now two broody hens together in a fairly small nesting box. It’s been about a week now and I would love to check the eggs but I just don’t know when. There is always one hen in there...

 

[casportpony]

So a practical question because I have just no clue..

I have now two broody hens together in a fairly small nesting box. It’s been about a week now and I would love to check the eggs but I just don’t know when. There is always one hen in there...

Do you have a dog or cat crate that you could put them in while you check the eggs?

 

[olliek]

So I thought I post a little update. We ended up leaving the two broody hens to their own devices as they seem to be content which each other.
Fast forward we have three little chicks, they are now five days old and seem to be doing fine. the hens still sharing responsibilities as there are still four eggs. they take turn hatching and taking care of the little ones. I ended up partitioning half of the coop with plastic chicken fencing.