I have a brooder who is about 1 year old. She's been faithfully sitting her nest for 24 days on an egg that I labeled when I noticed her growling at me. *grin* We have no rooster, so the egg is a dud, but we wanted to give her a chick or two...or three... but I dont remember the specifics of how to do that from last year's thread on it. SO:
Will she take 3? Should I put her in a separate space ( not sure I have enough time to build anything though this late) and
do I just put the chicks under her and take the egg ( like a tooth fairy gone Easter egg?) or do I wait until she leaves the nest to plant them? Do I leave the empty shell? like Santa leaves cookie crumbs?
and she's at the bottom of the pecking order. Will that affect the chicks chances of being abused by the other 8 hens?
We're on 11 acres in Central TX, and they have free range by day, and an 8x8x8 coop with 10 boxes by night. What accomodations do I need to make for chicks besides hanging the big girl's waterer and creating a nest on the ground for them? I plan to take the kids to the feed store any day now to pick out the chicks, before Peanut gives up on her egg.
Will she take 3? Should I put her in a separate space ( not sure I have enough time to build anything though this late) and
do I just put the chicks under her and take the egg ( like a tooth fairy gone Easter egg?) or do I wait until she leaves the nest to plant them? Do I leave the empty shell? like Santa leaves cookie crumbs?
and she's at the bottom of the pecking order. Will that affect the chicks chances of being abused by the other 8 hens?
We're on 11 acres in Central TX, and they have free range by day, and an 8x8x8 coop with 10 boxes by night. What accomodations do I need to make for chicks besides hanging the big girl's waterer and creating a nest on the ground for them? I plan to take the kids to the feed store any day now to pick out the chicks, before Peanut gives up on her egg.
