Ready to hatch! When can I move them to a safe spot?

[donnaleedreams]

My hen went broody and refused to let me move her eggs to a safe spot away from the other hens and rooster. Now the eggs are about to hatch, and I'd like to move her to the tractor, within the chicken yard to give her a safe spot to begin to raise her chicks. When is the best time to do this? Do I wait until all eggs have hatched (though some I know are up to 4 or 5 days newer....one hen kept going in on top of her and adding more eggs!) Do I wait until they start leaving the nest? They are up about three feet off the ground in a nesting box. None have begun to hatch yet, though today completes day 21 for most of her eggs. (I candled them a week ago and they all looked good)

Thanks for any help. This is my first brooding hen in three years of having chickens.

Donna

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

You are going to have a problem because of the newer eggs laid in the nest. When she voluntarily leaves the nest, then you can separate her from the others, but not before. She will likely wait more or less two days after the first chick has hatched before she gets up, so the other eggs will not have hatched yet and will die if they don't stay warm. Do you have an incubator you can put them in for the last couple days?

 

[donnaleedreams]

No I don't. I assumed I might loose some. I'm wondering if I might be able to use a heating pad and some towels for just the last couple of days on those stragglers? I would have taken them out had I known those crazy chickens were laying more eggs in their with her, but by the time I figured it out, I wasn't sure which eggs were which.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Yeah, that has happened to me as well. Try putting the heating pad in a bowl with a towel and a bottle cap of water or something to keep the humidity and cover it. I'm not sure that will work but it is the best advice I can give. Maybe someone else will see this and have a better idea? Hope everything works out! Keep me posted please.

 

[donnaleedreams]

Help again! Is mama hen supposed to peck at the eggs to help them hatch? Or does she peck at them to kills ones she things aren't going to make it? There is a tiny hole, but mom is pecking at it. I'm afraid she'll hurt the chick. Am I just a first timer 'fraidy cat?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Sometimes a first time mom will do that but it isn't good because she could accidentally hurt the chick. Once it happens she could kill it but it is likely she won't too. I've had that happen and the hens were good moms afterward. Keep the egg farther back under her and try not to let her peck on it.

 

[donnaleedreams]

Thanks, I pulled the egg in question, hopping she'd be okay with the other hatches...but this one, she had gone off the nest for some food and water and when she cam back and it was opening up, I think she thought it was an intruder! We kept it in the house with a heating pad and makeshift incubator and hatched a healthy chick. I'm hoping to reintroduce him to his mom this morning....hoping she has a few more chicks and hasn't pecked them to death! :O

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

That's wonderful! Any more chicks yet?

 

[donnaleedreams]

Nope. I'm hearing peeps in there but can't even see a crack in any egg yet! AND WE'RE ON DAY 24 ALREADY!!! This little guy is lonely for some friends. With 18 eggs to go, I'm hoping he'll have a sibling or two! That poor hen thinks I'm crazy to be checking on her every hour or so.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Haha! They'll come out soon enough. Are you positive that they are on Day 24? Any chance some got in there later?