Jenthelibrarian Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 At the school where I work we have a couple of bantams which have been given some fertile eggs. To everyone's delight we have [at least] two chicks! The bantams are in a classic eglu, with the attached run all inside a large, secure walk-in run. They seem to be 'mothering' a chick each, sharing the nest! This morning we have rushed out to buy chick-crumbs, we have set up a little wooden ramp from the eglu and put water in a shallow saucer with pebbles in. Will the chicks find their way out to feed? Shoud the food/water be put inside the eglu with them? How worried should we be about the bantams feeding/drinking themselves. I do keep two hybrid chickens myself, but am a very new to chooks and know absolutely nothing about babies, so any help much appreciated, as always... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Are there eggs still due to hatch? If so I would be tempted to put small amounts of food and water in the Eglu and keep the door closed. The reasoning for this is that the hens will continue to sit until the eggs have hatched and are more likely to show the chicks how to eat and drink if the food is close and also there is a danger of the chicks wandering off and getting chilled or escaping through the run bars. Something to watch out for is the hens squabbling over the chicks so keep a close eye on things as these fights can result in dead chicks, if the two hens are close you may well be fine but do have a plan just in case! The chicks shouldnt need the ramp but it will do them no harm After a couple of days it will become clear if the other eggs arent going to hatch so at that stage remove the eggs (candle them just in case!) and this should click the hens in to mothering mode not broody mode If there are no other eggs to hatch then the above may well still apply, some hens are very reluctant to leave the nest for the first day or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
