Sooo much pooping

[ManicRach]

Hi, I have a chicken who has been broody so we got some fertilised eggs off a friend. Our chicken (named Czekov) has been sitting on these eggs for a couple of weeks and as I'm writing this one of the eggs is hatching! This is her first lot of babies.

 

I am completely unprepared and want to know asap the following and would be grateful if you guys could help me out!

 

1. as these chicks aren't biologically Czekov's, will she neglect/attack/kill the chicks when they hatch?

2. what kind of food do i need for the chicks?

3. will Czekov take care of the chicks or will she need help from me?

 

and also, any tips for me guys?

 

Thank you,

 

Rachel

[Plum]

There is lots of info in the hatching section of the forum where the experienced people lurk.

 

As far as I am aware they eat chick crumb which your mum will eat as well. From what I've read I'm sure she'll look after the chicks as if they were her own, I don't think it makes any difference. I think most hens look after babies fine but some aren't good mums so you may need to keep them warm if she abandons them. Good luck and if desperate and in doubt about anything chicky pm Redwing.

[Redwing]

She should have sat for 21 days not a couple of weeks, double check the dates as she may have simply cracked an egg, if she has then remove it and dispose of it. Assuming that she has sat for three weeks and they are hatching:

 

She wont know they arent her chicks so you'll be ok there

 

You need chick crumb (from your local farmers merchant/feed shop) and a low dish to serve it in. mum will eat that too. A low water container with a narrow rim will also be needed, anything wider or deeper is dangerous for the chicks as they could drown

 

The broody will look after the chicks no problems, simply remove egg shells if they get chucked out of the nest, dont interfere and make sure there is food and water ready, the broody will take care of the raising of the chicks

 

They'll need a little run away from other chooks and when the chicks are six weeks old the broody will tire of them and want to go back with the others, the chicks will need to stay separate until they are 18 weeks or so

 

good luck

[ManicRach]

Ah yes! Just double checked the dates, it's been 3 weeks, not 2.

 

Thank you both so much, you've been a great help. I can hear the little one tweeting so shouldn't be long now, hopefully should be hatched by the morning. I'm so excited! I'll nip to my supplier in the morning for the food.

 

Thanks again!

 

Rachel x

[ManicRach]

checked this afternoon, we have two chicks, both black with white tufts on their heads they've been eating the chick crumbs and i've put in some water in a shallow dish. 1 egg hasnt hatched, i hope it will though. 2 final questions,

 

1. if the final egg doesnt hatch, should i take it away? and if so, how many days should i wait to do this?

2. Czekov is dragging the egg shells underneath her rather than kicking them out of the nexting box, is this normal?

[Redwing]

Leave the egg another couple of days or so then hook it out and candle it (hold a small torch against the blunt end, this enables you to see inside) if the chick is moving or you can hear pecking or cheeping then leave it under her for longer

 

get the egg shells out if you can as it will allow more room for the chicks under her but if she wont let you have them leave her to it!

[Lewis]

Congrats on the

 

Any photos?

[ManicRach]

 

there they are!

[Lewis]

Lifesized chicks!

 

Look good

[Mollie333]

They're absolutley gorgeous! Love the white heads!