Hello everyone! I'm so excited to jump in on this thread and follow along! Let me catch you up on my story...I have 11 hens/1roo and I've been very busy at work lately and let a hen brood a bunch of eggs. I have no clue when she started laying on them, though. I went online to teach myself how to candle them and found 8 of them to be fully black (or close to it) with the little air bubble at the large end (very cool!!) I did that a few days ago and I went and candled them again today in a dark closet with my 3 yr. old and 1 yr. old girls. We heard some squeaking and I thought a mouse was in the closet with us. Then I realized that it was a peep inside the egg I was holding!!! Now I'm really excited, but worried about my total beginner-ness. I'm worried about two things: 1- that I handled them so much so late in incubation. How important is it that they don't move during the last 3 days? Did I create a problem? 2- Should I leave them with the hen when/if they hatch? I'd like to take them once they hatch and brood them indoors like I do other chicks to protect from predators (my chickens free range but have an indoor coop.) What would you say is the problem with this? Lastly, how close is it to hatching if I heard the little chick in there? I could hear her pecking at the egg already, but no pips in the egg yet. Thanks for any advice!!
They should be hatching today if they have already pipped the shell. I wouldn;t do anything with them. The hen knows exactly what to do. Leave them with her at least until they hatch.
I wish I had a broody hen. No heat lamps, changing their bedding, no introducing them to the rest of chickens etc. She will also protect them if you leave them with her. All you would need to do is give them water and chick feed. If you decide to take them from her, I would wait at least a day for everyone to hatch out. Just my opinion...
Good luck!
