We have a 2 yr old Buff sitting on 1 hatched chick from yesterday and 2 hatch(ing) chicks who have the first fleck of their shell off their eggs. This is her first hatch and I have a few questions:
1.) They started hatching about 5 hours ago and they still haven't hatched- how long should it take and when should I get concerned? They are breathing just fine and their beaks are showing but it's pretty dry and hot right now. The hen is in a rabbit hutch type brooder with a lid.
2.) We noticed as one of the chicks came out from under the hen, that she pecked at it- and it didn't seem very lovingly- and it ran off up and away towards the corner of the box. I went into the box, llifted her wing and put it back and she seemed fine as long as she didnt see it. Also when she got up and turned around she started picking at the hatching eggs and caused one of the chicks to squeal out. I distracted her and she layed down but Im concerned for her maternal quality. What should I do if it looks like she is going to kill the chicks mid-hatch? Where should I put them if I dont have an incubator?
I'm fully prepared to separate her and them if need be and just take her out of the brooder but my hope is that she is a good mama and we don't have to.
1.) They started hatching about 5 hours ago and they still haven't hatched- how long should it take and when should I get concerned? They are breathing just fine and their beaks are showing but it's pretty dry and hot right now. The hen is in a rabbit hutch type brooder with a lid.
2.) We noticed as one of the chicks came out from under the hen, that she pecked at it- and it didn't seem very lovingly- and it ran off up and away towards the corner of the box. I went into the box, llifted her wing and put it back and she seemed fine as long as she didnt see it. Also when she got up and turned around she started picking at the hatching eggs and caused one of the chicks to squeal out. I distracted her and she layed down but Im concerned for her maternal quality. What should I do if it looks like she is going to kill the chicks mid-hatch? Where should I put them if I dont have an incubator?
I'm fully prepared to separate her and them if need be and just take her out of the brooder but my hope is that she is a good mama and we don't have to.
