mrsallen08 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Hello all I am hoping to hatch some eggs using my broody bantam, Pat. (She walks like pat butcher when she has a mard on) I have only just got my eggs and waiting for them to settle today. This evening my plan is to put hen in her new home (indoor rabbit cage) and then let her sit on some unfertile eggs overnight. Then tomorrow morning, if she is still sat there, swap them with the fertile eggs, that will be day 0. I know to keep turning them with the x and o technique. Is that all okay so far??? The thing that I don't know is when they hatch (if they hatch) do i need a brooder with heat lamp or would Pat just be keeping them warm and dry??? I know its early days but obviously would need to set one up in time. Also we are planning on using or spare room for the 'maternity ward' is this suitable? This is because she would not be disturbed by anyone, whereas we get mice in the shed and we are in there a lot with gardening and pet feeds being kept there. Many thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teri Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I put my eggs under my broody after resting them for a day. I put them under in the morning and left beauty to it. she is in a seperate run from my other girls and has been outside the entire time. you don't need to do anything with the eggs mum will turn them. just keep an eye on mum and make sure she pops off the nest to poo and feed. you may need to lift her off, some mum's forget to do this!!! as long as she is back on the eggs within half an hour they will be fine. I had seven out of eight fertile eggs hatch successfully without any intervention from myself at all. the chicks haven't needed a brooder or a heat lamp as mum keeps them warm. I'd just set her up outside somewhere sheltered and leave her to it! hope this helps good luck ps. as far as disturbing her is concerned i have had every kid, and most adults in the neighbourhood visit since they hatched plus my dog and several cats have had a look! If she is a calm hen she should not be too disturbed by 'normal' activities in your garden. also if they are to be kept in a run in the garden the mesh around needs to be really tiny, mine escaped through the bars on the second day and were running round the yard with mum in a flap because she couldn't get out to them! the run also needs a roof to stop sparrow hawks, magpies and kestrals from having the chicks for lunch. (pictures are on the forum from day one but you will need to go back a bit to find the early ones) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Just put them under her and she will do the rest. No need for x and o as she will turn them, and no need for a brooder as she will do everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) Hi! Our broody has just seven beautiful chicks we got a 100% hatchrate! when we set her on the eggs, it was in a guinea pig cage under our dining table kids, dog, visitors, telly......nothing fazed her when she was 'in the zone'. Now the chicks are all fluffy and healthy we pick them all up and put them outside in an ark each morning so mum can teach them to scratch and dustbathe, then they are brought back indoors. They are all so used to us and our noise, when we put our hands in the cage they just hop on to be lifted out Mum never minds, everybody's happy I wish you all the luck for your hatch, It's a truly wonderful experience so relax, let your broody do the work and enjoy Edited June 23, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 when we set her on the eggs, it was in a guinea pig under our dining table Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 ....and she's still there! with seven chicks chirruping away I didn't want to miss a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 aww bless her... Well my bantam has been upgraded to a private maternity room! She is in our spare room in a rabbit run. On Tuesday we brought her in after dusk and just left 3 'normal' eggs in the cage to see what she would do. On Wednesday morning she was tucked on them and have moved them from where we had put them! So we then swapped them for our fertile eggs and yesterday was our day 0. We have marked the eggs so we know if she is turning them and she is doing. She's quite happy sitting there all day and night, and sometimes singing to herself! lol Very excited, hatch should be on 8th July! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 If yesterday was day 0 they're due on July 16th! It takes 21 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 If yesterday was day 0 they're due on July 16th! It takes 21 days. 15th We set ours yesterday aswell, so we have the same hatch date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Yes, the 15th, of course that's what I meant to say At least I was only a day out, not a whole week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Yes, the 15th, of course that's what I meant to say At least I was only a day out, not a whole week We'll let you off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Yes, the 15th, of course that's what I meant to say At least I was only a day out, not a whole week I realised later on in the day that I was a week short! I blame the hayfever, my brain has been reduced to phlem! The good news is y broody is doing well and still happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
