bennett Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 My broody is sat in a coop which is unfortunatly in the sun for hottest part of the day, our garden does not have much shelter so even if i sited the coop elsewhere i would still have the same problem. it has been VERY hot here today, i took her out at 12pm as i do everyday and have been giving her soaked corn but she is not really eating it. any other way i can get her to drink other than on her break???? She is being a very dedicated mum and not budging by herself! Also we are on day 5 should i put some water on the eggs as i worry that they are going to dry out in this heat? or should i just start this on day 17??? Sorry lots of questions but i am willing these eggs to hatch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Dont put water on the eggs at any point, the broody will generate lots of humidity, they get quite sweaty towards the end Re the broody, can you rig up a sun shade over the coop or position a garden umbrella to provide some shade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennett Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Good idea! I have a parasol, will just prop it up against the coop, although i am sure the other girls will take to perching on it! Chicken poo parasol...nice! As for the eggs i read that i should put some water on as she is not in a proper broody coop so there is no humidity from the earth Sometimes i wish i had never picked up a chook book! Although i also read that broody's dont lay eggs as well as sitting and she is! I'm Going to burn the books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 A traditional broody coop was sat on the earth for natural humidity but eggs hatch perfectly fine in a normal coop, like I say the broody gets very hot and damp underneath, the first chick to hatch helps raise the humidity further. when i removed egg shells from my broody's nest the membranes inside were quite soft (meaning high humidity) much more so than in an incubator with electronic humidity control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Faith my broody has just hatched 5 out of 6 in a broody coop with a wooden floor in a nest of bliss bedding six inch deep.my garden is south facing with no shade for the best part of the day I just left the pophole open until day 18 and she's been fine I'm just waiting for her to hatch or reject egg 6 so I can open the pop hole up I've got the coop/run alined north south with the coop to the north the run has a white upvc roof for shade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I'm just waiting for her to hatch or reject egg 6 so I can open the pop hole up I'd open the pophole anyway, especially if it's been shut since day 18. If she's just sitting in the dark, she'll be confused thinking it's bedtime. The chicks have enough resources for the first day or so, but after that she needs to take them out and show them how to eat and drink. She'll either go back to the nest, or she won't and will make that choice whether the egg is viable or not as her five hatched chicks are her priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I'm just waiting for her to hatch or reject egg 6 so I can open the pop hole up I'd open the pophole anyway, especially if it's been shut since day 18. If she's just sitting in the dark, she'll be confused thinking it's bedtime. The chicks have enough resources for the first day or so, but after that she needs to take them out and show them how to eat and drink. She'll either go back to the nest, or she won't and will make that choice whether the egg is viable or not as her five hatched chicks are her priority. I was starting to think along the same lines myself they have got food a water in the coop but as you say it's dark in there. she's still looking after the egg as off 3 pm and was not well pleased when i move it for a look see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I used a reflective sun blind - like you see in car windscreens to deflect some of the heat from my broody. That would help reduce the heat inside the coop by a few degrees - every little helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Mine had parasols over the eglus when they were sitting and still have them over the runs as the sun beats down on them for part of the day....and apart from bedtime and when Holly had a few of her problems later in her confinement, the pophole was open all the time Just be sure she drinks & eats enough so she doesn't suffer any dehydration problems.....soaked corn in a small pot in the nestbox always seemed to disappear into my broodies also sweetcorn and mealworms went down well Good luck, Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennett Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 i havep put on up sons pram shade next to the coop, which seems to be helping, she is not drinking apart from on her break but i cant force her to do it , so i am just keeping an eye, she seems lively enough on her break, infact it's like a chicken on speed she has to do everyhting in 20 mins and it's quite funny to see the routine she has got into! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 i havep put on up sons pram shade next to the coop, which seems to be helping, she is not drinking apart from on her break but i cant force her to do it , so i am just keeping an eye, she seems lively enough on her break, infact it's like a chicken on speed she has to do everyhting in 20 mins and it's quite funny to see the routine she has got into! Faith was the same only one in 18 days did she take her self off the nest mind she has got abit more friendly with me since she's been broody but I don't expect that to last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
