Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[sjp]

how do you get a won-a-be broody to drink she'll eat and dust bath but as yet I've not seen her drink

she's been showing signs of being broody since about Thursday being sitting in the coop proper since Friday found her on the days eggs when I got home from work there're no eggs under her yet.

I'm taking off the nest ever hour or so for a 'pit stop' not that she stays out long 15 - 20 mins tops

Edited July 2, 2010 by Guest

[abwsco]

Re you going to sit her on some fertile eggs as if not you shuld try and break her from it really. My Maggie has been trying to be broody since Thursday but I've just been throwing her off and touch wood it's working at the moment.

[Lewis]

Soak mixed corn in water for a few hours + try getting her to eat that

[sjp]

Re you going to sit her on some fertile eggs as if not you shuld try and break her from it really. My Maggie has been trying to be broody since Thursday but I've just been throwing her off and touch wood it's working at the moment.

the plan was to hatch at some time later once she and Hope had joined the other 5 but that's not going to plan

if she stays broody till next weekend then I'll try to get her some eggs. if not then thats fine there's always next year

 

Soak mixed corn in water for a few hours + try getting her to eat that

will wheat be ok as it's all I've got

[Redwing]

Wheat is fine

[sjp]

she's been broody for best part of a week I take her out in the morning so she can eat same in the evening as soon as I turn my back she's back on the nest

my question is as she's sitting on an empty nest and I'm going to get her sone eggs to hatch do I need to put some training eegs in for her and if so how many? I'm only going to get 6 max.

[Redwing]

The first question is do you want chicks?

 

Think about what you will do with cockerels etc.. what facilities you have if the hen leaves the nest or rejects the chicks

 

If after all that you want to place eggs then put a few normal eggs under the hen for a few days to see if she stays broody then swap them for the 6 fertile eggs one evening after dark, she cant count so only place a few practice eggs, she wont realise you have placed six when you swap them

 

She'll need a private brooding area - a rabbit hutch will do, move her to this before placing the practice eggs

 

She will then need a run on that hutch when the chicks are about a week old then the chicks will need somewhere to grow bigger

 

lots to think about!

[sjp]

The first question is do you want chicks? yes

 

Think about what you will do with cockerels etc.. what facilities you have if the hen leaves the nest or rejects the chicks

cockerals I was thinking of meat I got an empty fish tank that can be put in to use if she rejects the chicks I just need a heat lamp. if she leaves the nest is the stumbling block as I don't really want to buy an incubator

 

If after all that you want to place eggs then put a few normal eggs under the hen for a few days to see if she stays broody then swap them for the 6 fertile eggs one evening after dark, she cant count so only place a few practice eggs, she wont realise you have placed six when you swap them

 

She'll need a private brooding area - a rabbit hutch will do, move her to this before placing the practice eggs

 

She will then need a run on that hutch when the chicks are about a week old then the chicks will need somewhere to grow bigger

shes in a broody coop any way

lots to think about!

[sjp]

well I've took the plunge and got her six eggs from the Domestic Fowl Trust

2 Rhode Island Red

2 Copper Black Maran

1 Black Araucana

1 Transylvanian Naked Neck

they'r resting on the side board ready to be set tomorrow

[Lewis]

 

Good choices there!

Good luck with the

[sjp]

 

Good choices there!

Good luck with the

I hope so it took me long enough to make my mind up

[meezers]

Tinned sweetcorn is good for getting some fluid into them if they won't drink.

[sjp]

Tinned sweetcorn is good for getting some fluid into them if they won't drink.

 

I used some wheat soaked in water one day last week and she ate that tried frozen sweet corn when it was really hot the weekend before last she was one of the ones that didn't eat it even when it thawed out but i'll keep it in mind if I think she's not drinking

[sjp]

well Faith has been sitting on 6 eggs for just over 24 hours

I swoped the 3 training eggs for 3 proper ones while she was off the nest yesturday then once she was back and settled the other 3 went under her

fingers crossed on or around June 21st she'll have fluff balls

[sjp]

day 10 and I've just candled the eggs they are all dark (compared to a freash laid egg) with a large air sack I can't see any defined shapes other than the air sack. is that good or bad?

should add I'm using a 18volt touch jerry rigged with a piece of card and a small piece of toilet roll middle and some sellotape

[sjp]

just candled them again and I think I've got at least 3 with blood vessels and a large dot the Araucana is just to small for my jerry rigged candler but that and the other 2 are all dark not clear like a new laid egg so I'll have to wait and see I think probably candle again on day 15 (Tuesday)

[sjp]

right just done the day 15 candle and they all have a good sized air pocket at one end and all are dark inside so noe I'll have to wait till Monday to see if I'm getting chicks the wait will be a nightmare

one questrian after day 18 (Friday) do I just leave Faith on the nest full time with the pop hole open or closed? if closed do I put food and water in the coop for her?

[lyd119]

Hi, we're in the process of our eggs under our broody hen hatching. That last few days will feel like weeks!!! But it's definitely worth the wait in the end...have fun hatching your gorgeous chicks!!

 

Lydia

[Lewis]

Sounds promising

Most of the time eggs (even bantams) hatch on day 21, so I'd leave her on the nest from day 18, and see what she wants to do with regards to 'fag breaks' until then

 

Foos and water next to her on the nest will encourage her to eat

 

Good luck

[sjp]

checked the nest at 07:00 this morning and there's 1 egg pipped a RIR I think

had a look in just no sign of any chick yet. Faith is sitting tight

this waiting lark is a nightmare and it's only been 3hrs 18mins and I've been out for 2 hrs

[craftyhunnypie]

They get mega fidgety when hatching occurs. They also seem to peck underneath themselves, sometimes they even remove the egg shell from the nest. Clever things!

 

Emma.x

[sjp]

she's not fidgety but she's not pancaked like she has been I have to admit to haveing anothe look about an hour ago when I heard her having a feed what surprised me was that she's turned all the eggs so the pipped one is now upside down

[sjp]

We have lift off one chick out a RIR I think still wet so I don't think it's been out long.took about 12 hrs

the Araucana is not only pipped but is about half way around should be out by morning I hope

[meezers]

ooh! exciting, get that camera charged and ready

[sjp]

ooh! exciting, get that camera charged and ready

got new batteries Friday