stevefitz5 Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hi I am hatching eggs for the first time under a broody and I have put her in a separate coop, today I took her off her eggs to get her to eat and drink and she went up to the walkin run and was squaring up with Betty whilst Bella just watched these are the girls she was in with pre broody and started pecking at each other quite aggressively through the mesh. Am I doing the right thing by keeping her separate all the time? Will she be okay to go back in with them after she has hatched? It was a bit of a shock to see them going at each other. Also I was wondering how is the best way to candle with a broody do I just get eggs from under her at night or is it worth just leaving her to it? Sorry for all the questions Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 You do need to keep the broody separate so you are doing the right thing The broody will get fed up with her chicks when they are about 6 weeks old at which time she can be carefully and slowly introduced back to the others. The chicks will need to stay separate till they are about 18 weeks old You can candle the eggs, just carefully remove them one by one after dark and gently replace them after, I;d leave candling till a couple of weeks in that way you dont have to candle again and can be sure what eggs are viable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefitz5 Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 Glad im doing something right Will try and candle in a week or so wish me luck with that one!!! Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Good luck with the hatch! What will they be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefitz5 Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 I have put 6 Cream Legbar eggs under, so loooking forward to some blue eggs fingers crossed. Today is day 11 do you think it is a good time to candle? Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Yes i would. Hope you have some fertiles! Cream legbars are on my wish list you lucky thing! Keep us posted and will keep fingers crossed for a good hatch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefitz5 Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 Yesterday was day 21 and we heard some tweeting we checked a bit later and there was a dead chick under Maggie. Really gutted I'm not sure if the other eggs are going to hatch there are no signs at the moment going to leave it till day 24. If nothing hatches not sure what I will do? Any help would be really appreciated. Me and oh gutted about the dead chic feel responsible cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Hi, sorry you lost a chick, these things happen but its still upsetting i know. Have any of the others hatched? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefitz5 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi sadly no more We have learnt our lesson as we got eggs via ebay/posted. So now we are just trying to break her broodyness (not going too good) so may have to put day oldchicks under her but would prefer to break the broodyness! We just want to make sure our broody is ok and doesn't deteriate anymore. We put her back with the othergirls and was ok but still funny noises and fluffing up and trying to get back to nesting box every so often. Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Thats a shame. I had mixed success with ebay eggs. My first hatch was only 3 out of 12, but this time i had 9 from 12 eggs. I think it is just the luck of the draw! Hope your broody gets over it all bless her i guess this hot weather doesnt help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
