Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[jon888]

Afternoon Everyone

 

I have a broody hen, which is brilliant, as i'd always planned to use my spare duckhouse (spare due to the ducks deciding they'd rather sleep with the chickens) as a brooder/nursery once i get a broody chicken. I've ordered some fertile polish eggs which are due to be posted out today. I was planning on moving our broody one to the new run (once i've built it) tonight or tomorrow night. Letting her settle then popping the eggs under her friday.

 

here's my problem.

 

I've done the maths on the calendar and the chicks would start to peep/hatch on 5th november. i've read that a lot of chickens couldnt care less about fireworks aslong as their tucked up inside. But what about chicks or the hen getting a bit disturbed on the night? She'l have been broody about a week come friday and wouldnt want to wait much longer incase she gives up early before they've hatched nor do i want to leave the fertile eggs for too long before putting them under her. Am i better waiting until saturday to pop the eggs under her or do it tomorrow night as the chicks will be a day old then and tucked up under mum?

 

Any advice welcome.

 

Jon

[Redwing]

Its best to set the eggs at night in the dark - the broody is less likely to be disturbed

 

I'd move her to the new coop tomorrow and let her settle

 

Then let her sit all of friday on some non fertile eggs

 

Keep an eye on her during Fri evening

 

Then set the real eggs late on Friday

 

The trouble with waiting a day is that you'll hit the weekend fireworks parties

 

On bonfire night just close the coop up early and she should stay put

[jon888]

Cheers. I had thought to just carry on as normal. Hopefully the eggs will arrive today. Will be moving her into her new house tonight. She's doing a stirling job on her unfertile eggs at the moment so hopefully that will carry on when we move her.

[Egluntyne]

You may need to give some thought about where they will be raised after she has lost interest in them, generally at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. They will still be very small and by then the weather will be decidedly chilly.

[The Dogmother]

You wmay need to give some thought about where they will be raised after she has lost interest in them, generally at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. They will still be very small and by then the weather will be decidedly chilly.

 

They'd certainly be too small to be outside at that age, even with the mother with them - there's only so many 6 week-old chicks that a hen can fit under her and they'd want to be kept warm 24/7 by that time of year. It might be worth having a heat lamp handy or bringing them inside somewhere.

 

Personally, I'd not hatch this late in the year.

[jon888]

I do have the option to put them in to our shed with a heat lamp when the time comes. The fertile eggs went under her last night so expecting an appearence on the 7/8th November. I've booked the 8th of work to make sure i'm there if they need bringing in if the hen decides she doesnt want to look after them.