The eggs have hatched!

[CovertFarm]

Our beautiful Ameraucana/Maran hen, May, has hatched her chicks today! I'm guessing there is a dozen chicks so far and six more possibly on the way. She can 'fly' better than all of our other chickens, so she would get out of the pen every day, and during those excursions, unknown to us, made herself a hidden clutch under our Oregon Grape shrub. We noticed the eggs several weeks ago, and after doing candling I was convinced they were all probably fertilized with the reddish tint in the egg. We decided to just let nature take it from there, and boy did it, lol. I have never hatched chicks before, only raised them. I was just going to let May tend to her chicks and sit back and keep watch. I've provided some feed and water close by, but other than that I'm not sure if I should interfere. I was wondering for other chicken hatchers out there if they think this approach is a good idea? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[SmiYa0126]

My broody hatched a chick earlier this year, I made the mistake of segregating her away from everyone for about two weeks. When I tried reintegrating my other chickens went crazy after two weeks and scalped him. I think your way is better.

The reason I moved her is because it was a staggered hatch, I was hoping she would hatch more chicks, but they all hatched over a week later....in my incubator.

 

[Chicks in VA]

Our beautiful Ameraucana/Maran hen, May, has hatched her chicks today! I'm guessing there is a dozen chicks so far and six more possibly on the way. She can 'fly' better than all of our other chickens, so she would get out of the pen every day, and during those excursions, unknown to us, made herself a hidden clutch under our Oregon Grape shrub. We noticed the eggs several weeks ago, and after doing candling I was convinced they were all probably fertilized with the reddish tint in the egg. We decided to just let nature take it from there, and boy did it, lol. I have never hatched chicks before, only raised them. I was just going to let May tend to her chicks and sit back and keep watch. I've provided some feed and water close by, but other than that I'm not sure if I should interfere. I was wondering for other chicken hatchers out there if they think this approach is a good idea? Any advice would be appreciated!

good luck i would just let mom take care of it though my hen hatched out a keet and its doing swell

 

[SmiYa0126]

good luck i would just let mom take care of it though my hen hatched out a keet and its doing swell

Aww I love guineas!

 

[Chicks in VA]

my keet is mt PFP

 

[CovertFarm]

Our beautiful Ameraucana/Maran hen, May, has hatched her chicks today! I'm guessing there is a dozen chicks so far and six more possibly on the way. She can 'fly' better than all of our other chickens, so she would get out of the pen every day, and during those excursions, unknown to us, made herself a hidden clutch under our Oregon Grape shrub. We noticed the eggs several weeks ago, and after doing candling I was convinced they were all probably fertilized with the reddish tint in the egg. We decided to just let nature take it from there, and boy did it, lol. I have never hatched chicks before, only raised them. I was just going to let May tend to her chicks and sit back and keep watch. I've provided some feed and water close by, but other than that I'm not sure if I should interfere. I was wondering for other chicken hatchers out there if they think this approach is a good idea? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[CovertFarm]

The photo is of May and her chicks under the shrub. <3

 

[SmiYa0126]

so cute!!!!

 

[Chicks in VA]

awe

 

[CovertFarm]

My broody hatched a chick earlier this year, I made the mistake of segregating her away from everyone for about two weeks. When I tried reintegrating my other chickens went crazy after two weeks and scalped him. I think your way is better.

The reason I moved her is because it was a staggered hatch, I was hoping she would hatch more chicks, but they all hatched over a week later....in my incubator.

Oh no! That's too bad. I am worried, because she chose a place that is out of the chicken pen to nest. She's always been independent, but eventually she'll have to go back into the pen. Just not sure when to put her and her chicks back in with the other chickens and the rooster (the father).