Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Phosphorus]

just wondering if I should be prepared with a heat lamp and a cardboard box, in case I am actually lucky and some eggs hatch but that I am unlucky and Gemma decides to abandon her chicks

 

Is that at all likely? I think I remember someone saying that broody hens sometimes abandon eggs but not the hatched chicks Does that sound probable that if the eggs hatch she will be a natural mum

[LittleBoPeep]

Our broody hen was fantastic. The dedication they show is amazing. She literally did not move off the eggs unless we picked her up. The minute they hatched she was there and was for about 8 months afterwards.

[feemcg]

After one of my Wheaten Marans snapping out of her broodiness, the other one has gone broody. I was thinking about either putting some of the eggs from the incy under her on day 18 (Monday) or newly hatched chicks under her at night.....BUT.....just read on Practical Poultry forum that a girl went to her work yesterday and came back to a nest containing only a chicks feet and back bone.......the broody had eaten the rest .

[Cooks]

*lynsey puts down her breakfast*

[dame egna]

*lynsey puts down her breakfast*

 

Sorry to laugh I was feeling quite repulsed until I read your reply there and then couldn't help but laugh.......

[feemcg]

Sorry Lynsey

[Egluntyne]

Dear me! I guess that answers P's question!

[Cooks]

Sorry Lynsey

that's ok fee, I eat too much anyway lol

[Lewis]

If you had a box or storage box and a light fitting with a red glowlight bulb, you won't go far wrong. It could help if you get a chick which is ill or being bullied or something like that.

 

But hopefully she'll be fine

[Phosphorus]

Dear me! I guess that answers P's question!

 

Seen that post on as well

 

Someone has now offered me a infra red lamp to use if necessary. Hoping won't be necessary and that she will be the perfect mum

[The Dogmother]

Generally speaking, they are fine. There are odd exceptions though as Fee has said.

 

Usually any problems manifest early on when they refuse to sit on the eggs. Two of mine are great mums.

[Phosphorus]

Update on the broody hen mentioned above that had eaten a hatched chick - there was a reason. The broody hen died today, when owner moved her, the nest was full of mites so had been attacking hen. A suggestion on was that hen had known it was not a good place for a chick to be so had killed the chick - unfortunately nature taking its course.

 

A lesson for us all on the importance of keeping out an eye for red mite on broody hens especially

[feemcg]

Aw, how sad, looks like she ate another one too......I wonder if nature was telling her she wouldn't be around to care for them

[Egluntyne]

Goodness! This is something worth remembering. How dreadful.

[Phosphorus]

Aw, how sad, looks like she ate another one too......I wonder if nature was telling her she wouldn't be around to care for them

 

It goes from bad to worse - an egg out of the clutch transferred from said hen to another broody hatched and was promptly attacked by that hen Not sure quite what was going on there? Suggestion was that maybe the new broody sensed the smell of the other broody on the new chick - not sure about that, doesn't make much sense to me

[feemcg]

......and she said she left it to die as she just couldn't cull it . All sounds a bit strange.......and to add to that, someone else on same forum has just found 2 big healthy chicks dead next to her broody......I think my Lulu is going to be without babies, I'm not taking the chance.

[Phosphorus]

......and she said she left it to die as she just couldn't cull it . All sounds a bit strange.......and to add to that, someone else on same forum has just found 2 big healthy chicks dead next to her broody......I think my Lulu is going to be without babies, I'm not taking the chance.

 

Mine are due to hatch under a broody from Friday onwards

 

I think I will risk it and see what happens, I don't have an incy (at the moment ). Hopefully it will not all go wrong, but if it does then I will know for next time. I have an offer of a heat lamp if I need one from a member in a nearby village - hoping I won't need it

[Phosphorus]

 

The broody that had the two dead chicks under her now has 5 or so live ones that have just hatched with no problems. Possibly something was wrong with those other two even though they looked healthy but should restore our faith in broodies now fee

[Phosphorus]

 

The broody that had the two dead chicks under her now has 5 or so live ones that have just hatched with no problems. Possibly something was wrong with those other two even though they looked healthy but should restore our faith in broodies now fee

[Phosphorus]

to add to that, someone else on same forum has just found 2 big healthy chicks dead next to her broody......I think my Lulu is going to be without babies, I'm not taking the chance.

 

The broody that had the two dead chicks under her now has 5 or so live ones that have just hatched with no problems. Possibly something was wrong with those other two even though they looked healthy but should restore our faith in broodies now fee