Who should I hatch??

[akf93]

Well just went out to check and the baby was dead on the coop floor. Mama still on the nest. Thinking it fell out and got cold? Not sure what to do now for the others. My coop isn’t big enough for a separate enclosure for mama and babies.

 

[akf93]

Well just went out to check and the baby was dead on the coop floor. Mama still on the nest. Thinking it fell out and got cold? Not sure what to do now for the others. My coop isn’t big enough for a separate enclosure for mama and babies.

Is this a fault of mama? Would a good broody have followed her baby down? Or is her behavior expected? Just for future reference, maybe I don’t let her hatch again. Or maybe I need to put up a barrier of a couple inches so others can’t fall out too?

 

[Fallenone05]

Is this a fault of mama? Would a good broody have followed her baby down? Or is her behavior expected? Just for future reference, maybe I don’t let her hatch again. Or maybe I need to put up a barrier of a couple inches so others can’t fall out too?

No, they stay on their eggs. It's called lockdown for a reason! It might need a higher barrier, or some wire placed in front of her nesting area to keep others out and away from her babies.

 

[akf93]

No, they stay on their eggs. It's called lockdown for a reason! It might need a higher barrier, or some wire placed in front of her nesting area to keep others out and away from her babies.

Will they leave the nest once a day still to eat and drink themselves? Or once hatch begins, they stay put?

 

[Fallenone05]

Will they leave the nest once a day still to eat and drink themselves? Or once hatch begins, they stay put?

Once the hatch begins, they stay put. They don't get up to relieve themselves or anything

 

[Ridgerunner]

That would hurt if it were one of many chicks. Being the only one so far and your first really stinks.

Could you post a photo of the nest showing the broody sitting in it. That photo in post #14 doesn't show quite what I'm looking for. The only time I've had a chick fall out of the nest was when I let a hen hatch in a cat litter bucket. The top of the bucket was 7-1/2" x 11-1/2". Baby chicks sometimes climb up on Mama's back while waiting for the later chicks to hatch. Mama was so close to the edge in that bucket that when the chick slid off of her it missed the nest and fell 4' to the floor. That happened four different times, probably the same chick. I put the chick back in the nest with Mama. The chick was not hurt and Mama did not follow it to the coop floor. I retired that nest as soon as the hatch was over.

I'm wondering if that chick slid off of Mama and managed to slide out under that lip in that photo. It looks like it is close enough. I'd close that gap off underneath. That's not something I would have thought of.

 

[akf93]

Well, I can get a picture in a little bit, but she left the nest this morning when I let everyone out so that she could eat but I just went back out and she is still not on the nest and the eggs are cold. I’m not totally bummed. It’s the first time and it’s a terrible time of year. I’ve learned so much about this! Excited for the next time. I don’t think this is going to work this time. Unless I see her go back to the nest, and maybe not even then, I’m probably not even going to give her hatched chicks. She’s hanging out in the run, not with her flock. But I don’t think she’s been back to the nest since leaving 2.5 hours ago.

 

[akf93]

OK, now, I don’t know what to do! She returned to the nest, but the eggs were definitely very cold. Here are the pictures of the set up. The chick was on the coop floor below the nest. any thoughts on how you think I should proceed? I would love for her to have some chicks if I can fairly well trust that she will care for them. I can definitely take over if she chooses not to, but I don’t necessarily want to. We are having some very strange weather right now we’ve had lows in the 30s and highs in the 40s. We got snow a couple times this week. But it is supposed to warm back up to the 50s and 60s again tomorrow.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd let her sit on those eggs a couple of more days to see what happens. Many people have been surprised when really cold eggs hatched. If you don't have chicks by then, break her form being broody and start again next chance you get.

 

[akf93]

I'd let her sit on those eggs a couple of more days to see what happens. Many people have been surprised when really cold eggs hatched. If you don't have chicks by then, break her form being broody and start again next chance you get.

You would advise against giving her hatched chicks then? I’m just worried if she left her nest for that long, she may also leave chicks. I just caught her off the nest again, and the eggs are cold, but when I came out, she went back to the nest.