Silly questions--may be ongoing...

[Lunawriter]

So, I'm hatching eggs for the first time over here and I have a few questions.

7 of the eggs are under a broody hen and 21 are in the incubator. I'm setting up a brooder, but I'm questioning *where* to set it up. I've heard there is an incomparable smell to the brooder and so I'm wondering if I could put it out on my screened porch--would that be a bad idea? Where do you keep yours?

Also, what do I feed the chicks that mama hen will raise? Do they get chick starter too? Should mama get the same thing? I'm sure my questions will continue as I get set up for the big day next Tuesday.

Thanks!

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
I set ours up on the screened in porch they did have a smell for the 3 days they were there but I dont think you can avoid that. If I get a broody I will put them all on Flock Raiser. Hope it helps. By the way these are not silly questions I was asking the same thing a few months ago.

 

[Lunawriter]

Thanks Barredbuff! Where did you put your chicks once they left the screened porch? And I'm a little worried about coccidiosis (or however you spell it) so I was thinking of doing at least a little medicated feed to start. The flock raiser probably doesn't have that, huh? Would the medicated starter pellets be bad for the mama?

 

[gckiddhouse]

We are on our second hatch this season. We incubated some and put them in a brooder. They are 5 weeks old now. This second batch is hatching right how and we also have a broody on some of them. What I am doing and what I would suggest is giving all the chicks to the broody! I HATE the brooder.

So to answer your question. YES, if at all possible, put them outside! Not only do they smell, but very quickly they start flight practice and scratching and make an ungodly amount of dust! Yuk!

If the bator chicks and the broody chicks are due at the same time, I would seriously consider just slipping them under the momma hen as soon as they are born. Skip the brooder!

Broodies are experts and they really will make your life easier. Just my opinion. You know we all have one

 

[Lunawriter]

Gckiddhouse, I posted asking how many chicks one broody hen could handle and only got one response suggesting a dozen or less if I remember right. How many are you going to give your broody? I'd LOVE to do it that way!

 

[gckiddhouse]

I have a Buff Orpington. She is smaller than most BOs, but I gave her 15 eggs. She was able to cover them, mostly. She has kicked out 3 so she has 12 that I know of. She may have a few from our other hen who keeps getting in there with her to lay her eggs. Ugh!

Anyway. That left me with 21 in the incubator. It sounds crazy, but remember that you are not likely to hatch all your eggs, expecially if they are shipped. Her 15 is down to 12 and my 21 came down to 10 at the last candle. I would gladly have given her 22 chicks to avoid that brooder! The poor hen. She may have been able to keep them all warm.

I honestly don't have any experience in how many chicks a hen can keep warm...

Anyway, She has hatched one and I have hatched 2. She is still sitting, so she must think that more will hatch. I have some chirping coming from mine and am thinking about pipping them to see if they will hatch.

So if she hatches another 10 and I hatch 3 or 4, then she will have 17. Some may say that is too many, but I would give it a try.

You don't have to decide until you candle the last time. If you have 15 or less that make it to day 18, then I would give them all to her.

Yes, momma and all the chicks get starter feed. Momma needs the extra protein after sitting so long. It will help her put on any weight she has lost not eating much for 3 weeks.

I just slip it in to the nest area on the second day. That will be tomorrow for me.

Hopefully your chicks in the bator will hatch all together so you can take them out to the broody. Just slip them in by her back side and let them climb in. She will never know the difference as long as she has some chicks.

Hope that helps! keep us posted. Would love to hear how it goes.

 

[babsbag]

My brooder is in my kitchen, yikes. They are 3 weeks and still on paper towels for a floor, not as much dust that way. I think they are moving out to the shed this weekend. My broodie and her 9 are in my spare bedroom as I am worried about predators and mostly getting stepped on by my goats. Hope to move them into a pen within the run this weekend as well. My house kinda smells like a chicken barn right now. I will be glad when it gets warm enough to open some windows.

 

[Lunawriter]

Thanks, Gckiddhouse! Mine is a BO, too. First time mama and very dedicated. She's gonna have our small coop to herself and I could always turn on the heat lamp mounted inside, maybe that would be best. I may just try to give them all to her and I'll be sure to post an update.

Babsbag, that does not sound fun having the barnyard come inside! Hope they all get situated for you, soon.