Staggered hatching

[WildType]

This evening I move a broody hen from the communal nest box to sit on a clutch of eggs in a broody box. Two eggs dropped from under her wings as I set her down and I instinctively put them with the clutch. Now I’m wondering if I made a big mistake. The two eggs are likely to hatch three days before the others. I’ve no way of identifying them to remove them. I’ve no idea what to do. Any advice anyone?

 

[sylviethecochin]

When the eggs hatch, remove them from the nest. Wait until the other eggs start hatching, and slip the 3-day olds under them. I can do this during the day, you might wish to do it at night, if you don't know your hens.

Good luck on your hatch!

 

[WildType]

I’m completely new to this as you can probably tell. How will I know when the eggs are hatched? I’d assumed that the two first chicks would be hidden under the hen? Is there a danger that the mother hen might hatch the first two eggs and walk abandon the unhatched ones?

 

[sylviethecochin]

They'll be hidden, but you can time it and start checking under the hens at day nineteen. There is definitely a danger that the mother hen will walk away with the first chicks and abandon the entire nest.

 

[WildType]

Many thanks! Another thought! The broody box has a door on it. Could I put baby food and water in the closed box for the babies and mother hen until the whole clutch has hatched to force the hen to keep sitting?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Sorry--was helping set up for an event.

You could block it off, and I've done similar when I don't want to brood the chicks myself for three days. Do the hens have room to get off of the nest and poop? Is it light enough in there that they can see the feed? (That won't be urgent until day three, when the chicks start needing to eat, but it is a consideration for the comfort of your hens.)

Generally, they'll stick around on the nest for much longer if food is available. You may not even need a door, unless your other hens are likely to charge in and trample the nest for it.

 

[WildType]

The brooder-box is a bit more than just a nest box. Its big enough for the hen to stretch her legs, poop, eat and drink, but really not much more. I've been under the impression that for 21 days the poor hen does little more than sit, sit and sit, and only occasionally gets off the nest. After the traumatic move from the communal nest-box, my hen appears to have settled again and is spread flat over her eggs. The brooder-box is in the hen-house with the other three hens and the rooster, there is mesh at the front and over the non-nest part of the brooder-box. The box provides physical separation to protect the mother hen's food and water from the others, whilst giving her connection with the flock including Mr Rooster. I'll put baby-chick food in the brooder when hatching starts.
I'm trying to provide an environment for my little flock to live happily and healthily. It's a big learning curve.