Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[hpops]

This is our first time hatching eggs, I was hoping for a broody hen to put them under, but when they arrived (ebay) I had no hen to put them under so I popped them in the incubator that I bought as a backup.

 

I now have a VERY broody hen - I am reluctant to take them out of the incubator now as they seem to be doing well in there and she may go off being broody - but would it be worth popping them underneath her a couple of days before they are due to hatch if she is still broody then?

 

Would she look after them after they have hatched if they hatch with her?

 

Would she look after them anyway if she is broody?

 

Or am I best to just keep the eggs where they are and hatch them as chicks on there own?

 

thanks

[superjules]

Although I haven't done it myself, I know others who have. You can even hatch them in the incubator and sneakily put them under her the night they have hatched.

 

What type of chook is she? Has she been broody before? If she's a purebreed I'd give it a go, although the advice I was given was make sure she's properly broody by leaving her to sit for at least 4 days before putting eggs under her.

 

Hope it goes ok hpops.

[hpops]

thanks for the reply - what are the actual benefits of popping them under her once they have hatched?

 

I guess it will be better for the chicks to have a warm mum to snuggle up to?

[superjules]

Well, aside from the fact that it's nice for them to have a mummy , you won't need to keep them under heat as she'll keep them warm. She'll also teach them all the chickeny stuff they'll need to know (although most of it's instinctive anyway I guess!).

 

Chicks are supposed to thrive better with a hen, although I don't have any statistics to hand to back this. If you are intending to integrate the chicks into your existing flock, mum will look after them and be their own personal bodyguard if they get picked on.

[hpops]

That's what I was hoping!! Brilliant - I'll definitely try and pop them under her - do you think it's best to wait till they have hatched or try a day or two before they are due to hatch?

 

My concern also is that I will have to separate my broody from the rest of her flock (where she is nicely settled in) in order that the chicks will be safe from the other hens - won't it then be hard for her to re-enter the flock? I feel really mean making her go through any pecking when she re-enters.........I guess it's a trade off with knowing that the new chicks will have a protector???

[superjules]

As I understand it, most people recommend separating broodies, although - as with everything - there are people who have left them in with the rest and had no problems.

 

Hatching by hen is supposed to be the best way, incubators can't totally mimic nature, although if you hatch them first you can put more under her than the amount of eggs she would be able to cover. Have you got enough eggs to hedge your bets and do both?

[hpops]

I've only got three........oh I don't know what to do now for the best!!!! I would love for them to hatch naturally and have a mummy to snuggle up to!!!! She's still there this morning - snuggled up looking all puffed up and silly in the egg port!! Bless her!! The other chickens seem to be just going in and laying next to her with no problems.

 

What shall I do?????

[Egluntyne]

Have you got a good home for any males that hatch to go to?

[hpops]

yes

[superjules]

Is it an rcom3 you have? I think they are supposed to be quite good. Debbie26pet used one recently and has also hatched with a broody I think, so might be worth pm-ing her.

 

Some people have found broody pullets to be less reliable than hens, so maybe your broody girl's age should be a factor in what you decide. Also, some breeds are more reliable than others. What breed is she?