jcon1123
In the Brooder
- Jun 22, 2020
- 6
- 4
- 14
Heya guys, first time poster here! I have a delema and I can't seem to find a thread with a similar situation.
Last month, I broke my ankle in a car accident, and when I got home from the hospital, my brother told me that one of my hens "Duckie" went broody at least since the day before I was released. He didn't have a good idea of how long she was on the nest, so I started counting down the days from two days before I got home. She's the third hen to brood here in the yard, and it's her first time too. I have three nesting boxes on three different levels, the one she was using is on the second level raised about four feet.
Well, turns out she'd been on that nest for at least 9 or so days longer than I'd predicted and three days ago, one of the chicks hatched! Simultaneously however, my olive egger "Daisy" went broody on the floor nest box the day before the hatch. She's a notorious flyer so I had to clip her wings a week prior (something I never had to do before). As of this morning, Duckie's chick is now three days old and evidently jumped to the bottom, with Duckie chasing after. there hasn't been anymore hatching except for one that died half-chick-half egg o.0
Now Duckie is sitting on the bottom nest with her new baby and on Daisy's eggs, leaving the old nest still with ten eggs that were still warm to the touch this morning when I checked, so she must have left around 9-10am. Daisy at first didn't seem to have a care in the world, pecking around in the run like a normal chicken, but then she returned to the coop just looking at Duckie, who probably isn't going to move now that her chick is under there. I know sometimes they take turns sitting on the eggs, but if Daisy wanted to get up to Duckie's nest, she probably won't be able to because of her clipped wings... so I sawped Daisy up, put her on the platform where Duckie's eggs are and she took to the nest instantly. Daisy's eggs that Duckie is now sitting on are no where near as old as her original clutch that Daisy's now on, so I'm worried that Duckie may leave that nest too once she realizes there won't be any new chicks anytime soon or her baby gets too big. I don't think Daisy will be able to get back up to the nest when she gets off to eat either. Furthermore, the eggs were left alone for about three or so hours before I put Daisy on them I'd say. The second hen that brooded before her two months ago would leave the nest frequently and for long periods of time and they still all hatched, so I'm not too worried about them being dead already but I would still like other's opinions as to if they're still even viable.
Since I wasn't there to check on any of the progress during her brooding, I'm not sure how old any of the eggs are under either hen, all I know is about 12 days ago, Duckie was sitting on a dozen eggs. One hatched, one died, ten remain. I'm worried about staggered hatching which I hear always sucks, never had that before, So I don't know what to expect if Daisy stays on that nest. I imagine she might become somewhat confused if some of the eggs hatch just days into her broody cycle. This is all such a mess
How should I go about making sure both clutches have the best chance to make it? I'd prioritize the older clutch that Daisy's on because I know there's more eggs and they're pretty close to being done apperantely. Duckie won't leave the bottom and I'm not sure if Daisy can fly back up to the second nest If she leaves. Normally I would just install a lower level perch so she can jump up without having to fly, but I can't do anything that strenuous right now with my leg.
Should I try to move Daisy to a new nestbox on the ground? I also have a chick coop/run area to separate them from the flock. My hens hatch in the main coop then once they're walking around I guide them to the little coop where they stay for a couple months till they can stand a fleeting chance away from the big rooster. My last batch just outgrew it so maybe I could move Duckie there and then move Daisy down(all with their eggs of course)? Or should I leave food and water on the platform Daisy's on and leave everything as is? Daisy's been in the nest for several hours since, so it looks like she's still up for brooding. Any suggestions?
Ironically I had built an incubator and loaded it up with fresh eggs yesterday, so there's no room for any orphaned eggs currently. I have no means of getting out to get material to build a new incubator because of my situation.
Last month, I broke my ankle in a car accident, and when I got home from the hospital, my brother told me that one of my hens "Duckie" went broody at least since the day before I was released. He didn't have a good idea of how long she was on the nest, so I started counting down the days from two days before I got home. She's the third hen to brood here in the yard, and it's her first time too. I have three nesting boxes on three different levels, the one she was using is on the second level raised about four feet.
Well, turns out she'd been on that nest for at least 9 or so days longer than I'd predicted and three days ago, one of the chicks hatched! Simultaneously however, my olive egger "Daisy" went broody on the floor nest box the day before the hatch. She's a notorious flyer so I had to clip her wings a week prior (something I never had to do before). As of this morning, Duckie's chick is now three days old and evidently jumped to the bottom, with Duckie chasing after. there hasn't been anymore hatching except for one that died half-chick-half egg o.0
Now Duckie is sitting on the bottom nest with her new baby and on Daisy's eggs, leaving the old nest still with ten eggs that were still warm to the touch this morning when I checked, so she must have left around 9-10am. Daisy at first didn't seem to have a care in the world, pecking around in the run like a normal chicken, but then she returned to the coop just looking at Duckie, who probably isn't going to move now that her chick is under there. I know sometimes they take turns sitting on the eggs, but if Daisy wanted to get up to Duckie's nest, she probably won't be able to because of her clipped wings... so I sawped Daisy up, put her on the platform where Duckie's eggs are and she took to the nest instantly. Daisy's eggs that Duckie is now sitting on are no where near as old as her original clutch that Daisy's now on, so I'm worried that Duckie may leave that nest too once she realizes there won't be any new chicks anytime soon or her baby gets too big. I don't think Daisy will be able to get back up to the nest when she gets off to eat either. Furthermore, the eggs were left alone for about three or so hours before I put Daisy on them I'd say. The second hen that brooded before her two months ago would leave the nest frequently and for long periods of time and they still all hatched, so I'm not too worried about them being dead already but I would still like other's opinions as to if they're still even viable.
Since I wasn't there to check on any of the progress during her brooding, I'm not sure how old any of the eggs are under either hen, all I know is about 12 days ago, Duckie was sitting on a dozen eggs. One hatched, one died, ten remain. I'm worried about staggered hatching which I hear always sucks, never had that before, So I don't know what to expect if Daisy stays on that nest. I imagine she might become somewhat confused if some of the eggs hatch just days into her broody cycle. This is all such a mess
How should I go about making sure both clutches have the best chance to make it? I'd prioritize the older clutch that Daisy's on because I know there's more eggs and they're pretty close to being done apperantely. Duckie won't leave the bottom and I'm not sure if Daisy can fly back up to the second nest If she leaves. Normally I would just install a lower level perch so she can jump up without having to fly, but I can't do anything that strenuous right now with my leg.
Should I try to move Daisy to a new nestbox on the ground? I also have a chick coop/run area to separate them from the flock. My hens hatch in the main coop then once they're walking around I guide them to the little coop where they stay for a couple months till they can stand a fleeting chance away from the big rooster. My last batch just outgrew it so maybe I could move Duckie there and then move Daisy down(all with their eggs of course)? Or should I leave food and water on the platform Daisy's on and leave everything as is? Daisy's been in the nest for several hours since, so it looks like she's still up for brooding. Any suggestions?
Ironically I had built an incubator and loaded it up with fresh eggs yesterday, so there's no room for any orphaned eggs currently. I have no means of getting out to get material to build a new incubator because of my situation.
