Should I take the hatched chick from the broody hen? Staggered hatch

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I saw u now have an artificial incubator. My only concern re putting the remaining eggs in an incubator, is that your broody may not accept the incubator-hatched chicks, after she takes her "Own" chicks out of the nestbox for the first time. (She will accept chicks back as long as she is still actively hatching.)

I dont own an artificial incubator. If i was in your shoes, i would continue to remove older chicks and put them in a temporary brooder. No need to put them back under mom until she has completed hatching. And continue to take care of mom's needs by encouraging her to come out of nestbox for a daily food, water and poop break.

 

[uktech]

I saw u now have an artificial incubator. My only concern re putting the remaining eggs in an incubator, is...

No, I totally agree with you as that is a risk I don't want to take. The remaining eggs are at the end of their process and I have no intention of putting them into the incubator unless the hen leaves the eggs.

I purchased that the moment I saw a crushed egg but the membrane was gently moving. My heart sank and I gave in. It arrived and the chick hatched eventually in my hand. I don't know if it's injured yet however it's with its siblings.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Chick in crushed egg is likely fine since it made it out of egg ok. And its never a bad idea to have a backup incubator. I have many broody hens, so my backup incubator is always another broody.

 

[mtma]

I am so happy to hear all of this! Congratulations! My hens is happily caring for 12, so I think if you leave them in they could be fine as well. It is so incredible to watch her raise those babies. I love the variety of colors you've gotten! Is she a brahma?

 

[uktech]

Thank you but honestly, she's the one doing all the work!
Yes she's a Brahma. The hens we have are 3 Brahma hens, a Polish/something cross and a Plymouth rock.

Sometime in the last 8 hours one of the plymouth rocks eggs hatched, her first and it's the black one with cream wingtips sitting down in the pic. Three are brahma chicks and the oldest black chick and the whiteish with black spot on it's crest are both the Polish chicks. For some reason my plymouth rock is an egg laying machine...one every day without fail hence there are more of those. The Brahmas are lazy layers haha. Only one roo and it's a Gold Brahma.

Really interested to see how the Polish Brahma's turn out

 

[uktech]

ok so day 30 of her going broody, she has hatched 8 lovely chicks (1 yesterday morning and 1 more in the evening) and has 4 eggs to go.

It's at this point that I'm noticing a massive change in her "broodiness" and her sitting position. Over the last 5 or so hours she is sitting more upright and is paying particular attention to leaving space under herself for the chicks. As cute as it is watching chicks dart in and out from under her, problem with this is the eggs aren't actually covered like she has had them for the last 4 weeks and it looks like they weren't touching her body properly either. Had to make a decision. You can almost see how she's sitting in the pic below, although I took this screengrab later when she only has the two youngest chicks under her along with 4 eggs.

So took the eldest 6 and brought them inside where they are going mental calling their mum. It has taken her about an hour but her posture is now slowly beginning to change where she's sitting like a broody hen rather than a mother hen.

Hoping things go back to usual just for a little while longer. Every now and again she does that shuffle to spread her feet further apart and get lower down, but then there is movement and she's reminded space is needed...so she brings her feet closer again.

Well at least she realises there are still more eggs to go. Fingers crossed.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

You have a Really good mama hen there. My broodys will also raise themselves a bit off the eggs as a chick is unzipping, so as to give the chick ample room to maneuver. Seeing her raise her body up a bit is how i know action is taking place underneath her. Byc is an invaluable resource for sure, but through common sense and close observation, you are doing a great job on your own. Helping broodys sucessfully hatch and raise chicks without losses definitely requires a strong team effort between the chicken And the chicken keeper. Keep up the good work!

 

[uktech]

Bless her, and thank you so much for your kind words. She, on the other hand, is not a happy mama at the moment.

Had to take the remaining 3 from her too as this morning, after her poop break, she decided to just teach the chicks how to forage. Guided her back to her brooder coop but still, she ignored the eggs. At one point she went over to the eggs and then came back away from them and wandered off outside constantly talking to the 3 chicks. That's completely against her usual behaviour at the site of eggs so figured it was her way of changing focus.

Took the 3 chicks away and then observed for another half hour or so. It took her that long to then get settled back on the eggs, sort them out and sit tight. So sad to watch but had to be done. Day 31 for her and 3 more days to go. Fingers crossed.

Chicks are happy although they already have lice which is another problem to take care of Gave them a DE bath and sprinkled a load over their hemp bedding.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Bless her, and thank you so much for your kind words. She, on the other hand, is not a happy mama at the moment.

View attachment 2692866

Had to take the remaining 3 from her too as this morning, after her poop break, she decided to just teach the chicks how to forage. Guided her back to her brooder coop but still, she ignored the eggs. At one point she went over to the eggs and then came back away from them and wandered off outside constantly talking to the 3 chicks. That's completely against her usual behaviour at the site of eggs so figured it was her way of changing focus.

Took the 3 chicks away and then observed for another half hour or so. It took her that long to then get settled back on the eggs, sort them out and sit tight. So sad to watch but had to be done. Day 31 for her and 3 more days to go. Fingers crossed.

Chicks are happy although they already have lice which is another problem to take care of Gave them a DE bath and sprinkled a load over their hemp bedding.

Has mama been treated with ivermectin or something? That would be brutal for her sitting that many days with lice. I do feel bad for mama... are you sure it’s not better to give her all of the babies now and you hatch the last eggs? I have read some good things about hatching younger babies and giving them to the mamas and it sounds like your mama is outstanding! Keep in mind, I know very very little about chickens... just throwing out some thoughts! I’ve been rooting for your chicken family for several days.