Should I buy eggs or wait it out?



Couple pictures of big broody tonight while I fed her on the nest. She is huge. I guess fat too. She can hardly walk when she gets up. She has been sitting for over a month now. She needs to get up and chase those chicks when they hatch. The other picture is a quick ramp I just threw together for Rogers kids. I will install it in the morning before I go to work.
 
jumpy.gif
Yay hatching day is here!!! It can take a couple of days for all the eggs to hatch completely and the chicks should be fine without food and water for that time. Your BO is doing what she should, glued onto those eggs because she knows they are hatching. If Roger still has eggs that need hatching, a ramp may not be a good idea. The chicks don't need to go anywhere yet, and it might encourage her to abandon the nest and hatching eggs in favor of the chicks. Also, you don't want the other hens to be around the new hatches as they may test them out to see if they are edible, so encourage them to stay in the nest until you can move everybody to secure quarters. I would use the BO as guide to what you should be encouraging her to do.

A water dish with marbles or clean pebbles will keep chicks from drowning, and you already got the chick starter I think.
 
Has anyone ever tried a cheese bath? It is really awesome! You start with a container of Parmesan (I used a 3 cheese blend) that is clumped up. Begin shaking gently, and tapping it on the counter and stove. When that doesn't work, shake more vigorously. Keep shaking until the top pops open, and covers your head, chest, shoulders, floor and maybe your back.
Allow the dog to clean it up to avoid having to get the vacuum or broom.

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The poetry is fun!! Cheeka too.

My brain is fuzzy. Been at the fairgrounds all day for the 4H ChickenQue fundraiser. We had a display booth and brought the Seramas, which generated a lot of interest. Fun, but I need a nap.
 
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jumpy.gif
Yay hatching day is here!!! It can take a couple of days for all the eggs to hatch completely and the chicks should be fine without food and water for that time. Your BO is doing what she should, glued onto those eggs because she knows they are hatching. If Roger still has eggs that need hatching, a ramp may not be a good idea. The chicks don't need to go anywhere yet, and it might encourage her to abandon the nest and hatching eggs in favor of the chicks. Also, you don't want the other hens to be around the new hatches as they may test them out to see if they are edible, so encourage them to stay in the nest until you can move everybody to secure quarters. I would use the BO as guide to what you should be encouraging her to do.

A water dish with marbles or clean pebbles will keep chicks from drowning, and you already got the chick starter I think.
Perfect. Here is my plan. I will let the rest of the flock out into the run in the morning and close the door so they can't get back in. The broodys will have the coop to themselves. No ramps I will move them to the floor when they are all hatched. I didn't know how soon they needed to have access to food and water. Roger is not going to follow the rules of normal behavior. She went out and waded around in mud for a thimble full of scratch while her chick was hatching. She is not right I tell you.
 
Quote: Heard a story today of a broody Welsummer that was given eggs to hatch. Brooded them like a pro, good hatch, but then attacked the chicks the next day. Killed one, scalped and injured a few others. You just never know.

Don't forget to give the exiled hens someplace to lay or you will have mud eggs. Cardboard boxes are great!
 
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So we started with 14 eggs. We are down to 11. Big broody has seven. Roger has four. How many will hatch and survive the first week? Whats your predictions?
 

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