Redinator's First Hatch-Along

[TwoCrows]

Would moving her into the chick house before the chicks hatch be a good idea? I'd probably do it in the middle of the night so she just wakes up in it with the eggs under her.

It's a risk to move a broody and her eggs, some broodies break because of the move. If you are too worried about this area, block or fence it all in with enough room for feed and water, a bit of stretching room and a couple days after the babies hatch you can move them all. Just make sure it's safe and nobody gets hurt on the blockage.

 

[kattabelly]

Would moving her into the chick house before the chicks hatch be a good idea? I'd probably do it in the middle of the night so she just wakes up in it with the eggs under her.

At this stage, I wouldn't. You could always move her at night once the chicks have hatched but before she's taking them off the nest much, if you're really worried. If you're able to be around a lot to keep an eye on them then I'd just do that.

Sorry, I can't remember if you've posted before about your setup. Is it a small coop with just nest boxes and a bit of roosting space, or a larger one with more space to move about and where you could put food and water if necessary? If it's bigger and they can eat and drink inside, once they're off the nest they'll likely just spend a few days inside before she takes them outside or they feel brave enough to go that far themselves. If it's a smaller space and they'll need to go out as soon as they need food, that might be more difficult.

 

[redinator]

At this stage, I wouldn't. You could always move her at night once the chicks have hatched but before she's taking them off the nest much, if you're really worried. If you're able to be around a lot to keep an eye on them then I'd just do that.

Sorry, I can't remember if you've posted before about your setup. Is it a small coop with just nest boxes and a bit of roosting space, or a larger one with more space to move about and where you could put food and water if necessary? If it's bigger and they can eat and drink inside, once they're off the nest they'll likely just spend a few days inside before she takes them outside or they feel brave enough to go that far themselves. If it's a smaller space and they'll need to go out as soon as they need food, that might be more difficult.

The 10 older chickens had a 9x18 open air run that they mostly slept in. The hen house is separate because when my girls started laying they decided they were more comfortable under the stair landing where it's cooler and shadier. So instead of fighting them I put the henhouse against the house in the shade. When I did that I didn't really think about them brooding chicks in there, only laying eggs.

My oldest chickens are 6 months old, so I didn't expect anyone to go broody just yet, and I certainly didn't think she'd sit for the full 21 days the first time around, so I'm scrambling to get things set up for them.

Now that Sweety is brooding in there the other 9 older chickens have decided to roost on the stair railing next to where she is. The run is currently occupied by the 26, 7 and 8 week olds, which will be moving into a 10x25ft run and they just started free ranging with the older chickens a day or so ago.

 

[redinator]

It's a risk to move a broody and her eggs, some broodies break because of the move. If you are too worried about this area, block or fence it all in with enough room for feed and water, a bit of stretching room and a couple days after the babies hatch you can move them all. Just make sure it's safe and nobody gets hurt on the blockage.

That's an excellent idea! The hen house is next to our stairs and landing. I could tack up some hardware cloth around the henhouse and landing with some t posts I have left over.

My biggest concern is Daisy, my dog, having access to super young chicks without supervision. I don't think she'd intentionally hurt them, but I also don't want to stress Sweety out because Daisy is use to being able to sniff the chicks and will want to meet them. I also don't want Sweety to attack Daisy.

I was ok with all of this until I realized my dad has an appointment the same day the chicks are due to hatch

 

[redinator]

Okay now I'm super confused. There are only supposed to be 5 eggs in the nest and it's only been 4 days (possibly 5) since I stopped collecting Pot's eggs.

In the batch of new eggs there are 5 larger eggs, which look like Pot's and 3 smaller eggs, which look like Sweety's? She's still sitting so I suspect one of my RIR or my Buff Orpington may've started laying the smaller eggs. The Reds and Buff just made 5 months.

 

[TwoCrows]

Okay now I'm super confused. There are only supposed to be 5 eggs in the nest and it's only been 4 days (possibly 5) since I stopped collecting Pot's eggs.

In the batch of new eggs there are 5 larger eggs, which look like Pot's and 3 smaller eggs, which look like Sweety's? She's still sitting so I suspect one of my RIR or my Buff Orpington may've started laying the smaller eggs. The Reds and Buff just made 5 months.

I mark eggs that are being incubated by a broody not only to keep track of their development but who laid them along with knowing if she or anybody else laid new eggs in the nest. New ones need to be removed, broodies don't stagger hatch with eggs that are a week behind and will abandon eggs after a few days to care for the ones that have hatched.

 

[redinator]

I mark eggs that are being incubated by a broody not only to keep track of their development but who laid them along with knowing if she or anybody else laid new eggs in the nest. New ones need to be removed, broodies don't stagger hatch with eggs that are a week behind and will abandon eggs after a few days to care for the ones that have hatched.

I marked the first 5, I'm just confused because the small eggs looks like Sweety's. To my knowledge the Buff and Reds aren't laying yet. Although I have been distracted, so they could've started.
I would just expect larger eggs from both breeds than what Sweety lays.

Edied: typo

 

[redinator]

I'm starting to wish I could change the title of this thread to include "Extended Version", lol.

 

[redinator]

She's off the nest for the second time today and singing the egg song . . I think she may've given up, but I'll see what happens.

Getting the incubator ready just in case

 

[TwoCrows]

I'm starting to wish I could change the title of this thread to include "Extended Version", lol.

I can change the title to anything you wish!