That is great. I haven't had the guts to try to do that. Right now, my hubby is saying that the house smells like a barn....I have so many brooders going. I don't have any current broodies to put them under, so they have to be brooded inside the house. I do have an 8 month old brahma hen that I'm planning on putting the oldest group (4 weeks old now) in with next week....we'll see how it goes. When the new coop is build, it will contain a brooder pen for the incubator hatches.
yeah usually I use my silkie pen as a grow out pen for chicks just because they will mother anything!
Quote: Your silkie pen sounds like a great place to be a chick!
For the eggs... hop over and check out the 'guide to assisted hatching' for reference on how to handle the over due eggs. I am not an experienced helper, since I don't even own an incubator, just a coop full of broody types.
I only know what pipping looks and sounds like because of the incubator hatches that I have had. Generally, after they have pipped, they stop doing anything for a while to absorb the yolk. I find in the bator, they make an occasional peep, but under a broody I've never heard them (she may have better hearing than mine). I'm talking a peep about every 1/2 hour or so, an usually only if some other noise gets them going. Then after about 3-4 hours (although I've had it take as long as 6-8 hours), they will start the zipping process which usually goes pretty quick from then on. Again, I only know from incubator experience, believe me, once we get to about day 18 under my best broody...she won't let you anywhere near her or her eggs...I think she'd take off a finger if I tried. I just one day see a chick or two poking out from under her.
Some hens just don't wanna move... stubborn girls! Marking the eggs and giving her a visual barrier will work fine as long as the other hens don't pick on her. Watch for signs of stress or problems and intervene if. you need, otherwise she should be good to go! Looking forward to pics!
