Poo help please!

[magamamma]

Well we have had some lincolnshire buff eggs given to us to hatch. we started off with 11 and there were a few incidents where she actually kept rejecting some so it went down to 8 but i have just candled my eggs and 4 are growing. Im very pleased with this result.

 

was wondering..... you shouldn't keep the hen with her chicks in the flock but she is in the nesting box sitting on them and the others join her at night. they are quite supportive and when she goes for a scratch around my light sussex sits on them for a short while.

 

Do you have to seperate them most definately or is this a precaution???

Also... do i leave the chicks with her the whole time or do i get a brooder for the first week???

 

thanks.... I always turn to you ever knowing chicken eggsperts and you always give me such good advice!!

 

Maggie.P

[The Dogmother]

You really should have her in separate accommodation from the start. Are you able to borrow a secure rabbit hutch and run?

[superjules]

As she already has fertile eggs under her I wouldn't risk moving her, personally. My broody wyandotte spent a day pacing and protesting loudly (I could hear her from the end of the road!) when i moved her. If you are going to move her, do it at night.

 

I know others who keep their broodies in the main henhouse and don't have any problems but I haven't tried it. If you are not going to move her, I'd screen off the nestbox she is in and give the others somewhere else to lay so that she's not disturbed. Obviously supervise the hatch as much as you can to make sure the others don't harm the chicks, then maybe you could move them into their own accommodation if the others are being pesky.

 

You only need a brooder if she rejects any chicks and you want to hand raise them.