poppy ben grace Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 (edited) Hi all, i have a dilema. I have 5 blue mottled pekin and 5 chocolate bantam orp fertile eggs that are due to hatch weds/thurs this week. I have 3 under my broody hen and the others in the incubator. My question is do i risk putting them all under my broody as i really want her to rear them, especially with the weather turning cooler, i thinks its nicer for the chicks to have a mum.Or should i let some hatch in the incubator and put them under the broody after? I dont want to lose them! Please advise, i am running out of time... Edited September 8, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 It would be much better for them to be with a broody as long as you can keep her in a very sheltered coop and run or in a pen in a garage/shed (ventilated but fox proof) With that in mind I'd do this if it was me: Candle and remove any non fertile ones at 7 days Replace any removed from under the broody with ones from the inccy Candle again at or around day 18 Do the same as before If there are any still in the inccy at the end then let them hatch and place the wet chicks straight under the broody, if she rejected the wet chicks let them dry and try again Keep the broody in the dark for days 20-22 that way she wont spot if you move in chicks If the broody hasnt sat before keep an eye on her, some seem to get freaked out by wet chicks and attack them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 Thanks Tasha, i will candle them all tonight and see what i have, if there are not that many fertiles i will give them all to the broody. She is in a very sheltered spot next to the shed and i can cover the coop if the weather is bad or she can come inside. Will see what hatches in the next day or so! P.s my poor old hubbie thinks I have too many hens, wait untill i tell him how many you have!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Mine are hatching under a broody right now. They are in the eglu with q heavy layer of aubiose in the nest area and the door firmly shut for a day or so. I have a shower curtain bungeed over the run, my son is going to crawl in tomorrow to put a ramp in for the chicks when they come out the following day with mum. We are also probably going to put our beach windbreak around it. The eglu is sheltered on one side by our fence and shrubs - we have the garage as back up but hopefully they'll have grown a bit before it gets really grotty. Does that sound acceptable? The eggs are cheeping and pipping and I'm sitting on my hands when not on iPad so that I don't disturb them - will it affect the hatch if the broody is lifted to see what is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 How are yours doing poppy b? I'm currently nine. I think that will be it as one is taking a while and the other hasn't broken through the shell yet - they can have overnight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Still waiting, i think they may come tomorrow as i set them about 10.00 at night. You have got a good hatch, i find there is often a couple that dont make it. What are they? How is broody mum coping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Update! Well i have left it too late to put them all under beryl my broody hen as one of the pekins in the inci has started to pip! Typical i shall miss the hatch as possibly it will hatch out over night. So excited and worried at the same time. I will have to try and give the hatchlings to beryl when they have all hatched. Do any of you wise people have any tips on doing this? Is it best to do it at night or during the day so i can keep a watchfull eye on them. I have an electric hen and cage ready on standby if it all goes wrong. She is sitting on two fertile eggs so should i wait for them to hatch before adding any more? Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 How many are left in the inccy and are the ones under her due at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Hi, 7 in the inci and they are all due at the same time,i set them all on the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 hmm what breed is the broody hen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Shes a speckeldy, lovely calm natured girl , has not been agressive in any way to me while sitting on her eggs, but is top girl in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 If she has hatched before and if the egg in the inccy is pipped but with no real hole yet then I would slip all of the inccy eggs under her now If she hasnt hatched before then I would probably wait for the chicks to hatch then slip them under her at night, it really needs to be done as early as possible, ideally when they are still damp She really MUST be kept in the dark if she is to accept the chicks - she wouldnt normally leave the nest to eat and drink during a hatch anyway It helps if you can confine her hatching area, so new chicks cant wander far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 This is her first hatch so i think i will have to let them hatch and put them in at night like you say. Very difficult as the first one will have dried by tomorrow night and possibly the others too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 Another update, i have a chick! The one that had pipped last night hatched out while i took the children to school so we missed it! There are 2 others that have pipped and one of beryls eggs have pipped in the broody coop, so i am hoping she will have a chick today and if i put the others in when its dark her mothering instincts will have well and truly kicked in. Worse case senareo they will have to go in the shed with the heat etc. Thanks again for your advice Tasha, it really is appreciated. Will update as and when. P.s how are yours getting on Brambles? Did the others hatch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 Well i have just put 4 chicks from the inci under beryl and her 1 chick and she was happy to have them! Just praying they make it through the night ok. I still have 3 more to hatch so they may have to wait until tomorrow. How many chicks can a broody cope with? If they all hatch she will have 9 to care for, is this too many??? They are pekins and she is a speckledy if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 She should be fine with all of them. When you add more chicks in the morning keep her shut in, the new chicks need mothering more than food or water If you are around during the day check her at lunchtime and offer her some water Well done so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thankyou! Just been to have a peep and all seems well in the broody coop. I am at home all day with the children so can keep a watchful eye on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Sorry, got too busy staring at the chicks! I have just the nine with my lovely light Sussex. All bantams, six siver laced wyandottes and three lavender pekin frizzles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 Lovely, great choices! I would love some frizzles, maybe next year.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Me too again next year - the eBay seller was lovely. I've got a home for the frizzles if they turn out to be boys, unless any of my omlet mates want them (or boy wyandottes). Otherwise they're off to the welsh hills. I will be watching combs and wattles carefully, although my last lot of boys went off like party blowers at 8 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
