The first baby is out! Staggered hatch/Broody questions, need advice!

[clucktastic]

My first broody has been so diligent and careful with her first clutch, and I came home from the feed store today to find a beautiful little peep under her! Of course pics are in line when I get them uploaded, but i have a concern about this little guy.

My hen went broody about 2 days before I got these eggs under her, and when I moved her into the nest with the 10 eggs I wanted to hatch, I found that she had only been sitting on the one egg she laid that day. So instead of throwing that little thing away, I just tucked it back up under mama with the new ones.

That first one hatched today, and I know about the three days for yolk to be used up by the chicks, but does anyone think that I should pull that little guy and brood him to make sure that the hen stays broody long enough to see the others to hatching? How long should I wait to do that? I was thinking tomorrow night while she's sleeping if I don't see another baby in the morning?

I definitely learned my lesson on the staggered hatch thing.

Thanks!

 

[kyrose]

i would probably take the baby,but im no expert...

 

[ChicknCharm]

I am no expert either, but we just hatched two groups of 7 eggs with two broodies. Some of the eggs did not hatch until about 48 hours after the first one. That Mama stayed on her nest. She stayed on her nest another 24 hours after all were hatched....just keeping them warm. In one group there was one egg that must not have been fertile, and that mama hatched all 7 with number 8 still in her nest. She set an additional 24 hours on that one egg with 7 active peeps running about. She gave up on it between 24 and 36 hours. The babies all just swarmed around underneath the broody moms.

Also, I think it is good for the other eggs to hear peeping...it encourages them to come out and work hard (so I believe). Good Luck!

 

[clucktastic]

well, I went ahead and took him out and put his little fuzzy butt in the box... and then during the course of the day today, two more hatched, a wyandotte mix and a pure barred rock. Another one seemed to have a hole started (is that what they mean by pip?) and the other seven were just hanging out there.

How much longer should I wait on this? I have half a mind to start leaving the cage open for her. I noticed that she was actually getting up and eating and whatnot, the little guys crowding right back under her. I taught the first one to eat and drink before I put it back in the cage with mama, and so now they are all together. I'm hoping she gets the rest of them hatched yet tonight, but I'm a little nervous. Maybe 11 eggs was too many for her?

I never candled any of them anyhow, so I'm not even sure that they were all viable.

the vast mysteries of nature... at least it's exciting!