Our First Broody and Incubator Hatch: a Diary

[meetthebubus]

I saw a YouTube video of a chicken protecting her chick, quite amazing

 

[igorsMistress]

I've observed the big girls over the last few days going in to see the chicks and Ruby but leaving them alone for the most part. They seem curious but not aggressive. I'm happy that part is going smoothly.

The peeps are busily learning to forage, I've seen them in their feed and at the water dish too. I'm keeping a jar of water on the counter in the kitchen that I use to refill the baby waterer every couple of hours. It's cool but not cold and they seem to enjoy it.

When I took out fresh food and water Ruby got mad at me and pecked my hand as I put down the container, then led the babies out through the pop door. They went right back in when I left. I think she's mad at me because yesterday I showed the chicks they had fresh water after I found them trying to drink and the reservoir was full of litter.

I'm concerned about heat now that I can't run the mister. I've been opening the big door most of the day, except for a few hours in the late afternoon when the sun hits the front of the coop, then opening again in the evening until I lock up. It definitely helps because I can feel a stronger breeze through the pop door.

I've blocked any entrances the chicks might get through into the dog yard. I still need to block a few flood vents in the wall surrounding our property with rocks until they're too big to get out.

Temps will hover just below 110* this week with varying storm chances.

 

[aart]

Why can't you run the mister?

 

[igorsMistress]

Why can't you run the mister?

The floor in the coop gets wet and the chicks would get soaked, their nest too.

 

[igorsMistress]

 

[BlueBaby]

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It look's like Ruby really love's her NN babies. What will you do if your other hen's want to have babies, too? I heard that broodiness can spread sometimes.

 

[igorsMistress]

It look's like Ruby really love's her NN babies. What will you do if your other hen's want to have babies, too? I heard that broodiness can spread sometimes.

She adores them. You hush about any spreading I hope we're too close to molting for anyone to want any of that!

 

[BlueBaby]

She adores them. You hush about any spreading I hope we're too close to molting for anyone to want any of that!

Awe, don't you want some more of those cute little white chicks with bowties running around? I have to wash my hatching eggs that I collected for last week up tonight. Sunday starts the new week, and I found 4 new egg's out there earlier today. I'll check again for more when I go out there for the evening feeding and checking on them again.

When they start molting, don't we need to switch the feed over to that Feather Fixer type, to help them get through it faster?

 

[igorsMistress]

Awe, don't you want some more of those cute little white chicks with bowties running around? I have to wash my hatching eggs that I collected for last week up tonight. Sunday starts the new week, and I found 4 new egg's out there earlier today. I'll check again for more when I go out there for the evening feeding and checking on them again.

When they start molting, don't we need to switch the feed over to that Feather Fixer type, to help them get through it faster?

I guess you can. I've read you can offer extra protein to help. My girls like canned salmon and ground meat. We haven't had a real molt here, the big girls were only 8 months old last fall. This year everyone is a year or older. Even the naked necks, I think they were hatched last September.

I'll likely supplement with meat and leave everyone on the chick starter.

 

[meetthebubus]

Uh oh your first molt? My first was last year loose feathers unending... oh and they had bad attitudes towards each other and pecked alot at roost time poor babies

They didnt like the feather fixer it smells bad so I'm gonna do like you are @igorsMistress and add more protein, including chick starter

I wonder if my ee's will make molt this year they are end of January babies