I got baby chicks from the BCM eggs that CGG gave me! WooHoo! Broody hen, who has been sitting on in that nest box for nearly 3 months now finally has some babies!!!
Today is day 20 on these eggs. (a month on plastic easter eggs and another 3 weeks on infertile eggs before she got these). I was not expecting it today! I went out there at 5:30 to open the pop doors and thought she seemed a little different when I gave her some water (spoiled hen, I hold the bottle for her). I thought maybe the BCM from Z-goat had snuck another egg under her so I felt under and found a fluffy chick and a cracking egg! went out again at 10 and there are now 2 chicks! Not sure of the other 2, I did not take a look. The mean broody is a nice mom. one of the chicks was snuggled up beside her and she let me pick it up, no fuss! She watched intently and then gently pushed the chick back under her.
I need to move them, but how? They are in a high-up nest box. I tried moving the nest to a pen a few times but each time the hen became so upset, violenlty flapping her wings in the cage. I thought she would be injured! They can't stay where they are, it is too high, and no way to contain the babies and keep them safe from the other hens. Any suggestions? Do I need to wait until the others hatch? Should I put something up to block the nest box until then?
I know--I told DH yesterday that it was about time to invest in another "window shaker" A/C unit for our livingroom.
