Chicken bald back

[green16]

Our first time hatching chicks (BHWT rescue girl gone broody!) and she seems determined to hatch them in our Eglu Cube! She's done a fabulous job sitting on 6 eggs due to hatch on Tuesday but so far everytime we try to relocate her (at night) to a separate low level maternity coop she refuses to sit back on the eggs so after a few hours we end up moving her back!

Starting to panic & just wondered if anyone has any advice - Obviously the Cube is far too high for chicks but we seem left with little option but wait until they hatch and then move them all together. How long after hatching can we wait before they are going to be trying to get outside? And what is the best way to move mum and chicks together without her abandoning them? Thanks for any help

[mimi5]

Ok, not sure if anyone has ever done that before. But I do vaguely remember someone hatching in a cube, so try the search bar in this section to see if you can find the posts relating to that. Really she should have been moved and settled on "dummy eggs" and then if still determined, given eggs. I have my broody in my spare classic. I settled her in there first then gave her eggs to sit on.

 

I guess you have no option now but to wait and then after the hatch move them all. But there is a chance she may abandon the chicks, so have a plan b, as in some kind of brooder and lamp/electric hen.

 

I guess you have other hens in your cube too? Has that proved problematic?? Are they your own eggs? Did you candle them?

 

Best wishes for a safe hatch Mine are on day 20, so D day for me tomorrow

[green16]

Brilliant thank you, don't know why I couldn't find anything on search before but tried again this morning and found lots of great tips so relieved to hear it can be done - http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=97590&p=1293301&hilit=cube+broody#p1293301

 

Next time we will definitely get her moved and settled before switching eggs. We are learning as we go along. It's not something we ever expected to do, we've had 11 rescue girls over the years and didn't think it was possible for them to get broody, we stand corrected! At the moment we have 3 girls including our broody and they have a large run so the other 2 tend to leave her alone, we just need to remove the extra laid eggs everyday or she has a tendency to claim them for her nest too! We got some fertilised eggs from someone local, completely different colour and size but she doesn't seem to care, just happy to have some to sit on.

 

Plan B - great idea - picking up an electric brooder tomorrow

 

No success with candling yet, we've just got a torch, will do some more reading up today.

 

Thank you & Good Luck for your hatchlings tomorrow

[mimi5]

We are learning as we go along.

 

Ditto to that and I've been keeping chickens for 3 1/2 years now Lots of helpful advice on here whenever you need it

 

I thought I remembered someone else doing a hatch in a cube! It's all a bit of an unknown quantity with hatching I did candle my eggs this time, but didn't 3 years ago when I hatched. I had bought eggs then, most didn't hatch These eggs are all mine and they were all growing day 11 when I candled them My broody hen hasn't hatched before......so I hope she's going to be a good mum. She is one of my hatchlings from last time

 

Have you got all your other bits together? Chick crumb and a special chick drinker (chicks can drown very easily!)

 

Now I'm worrying about boys Last hatch I had 2 broodies on 12 eggs. I got 4 boys and 3 girls. I did managed to re-home the boys......but it was hard!

 

Keep us posted

[green16]

That's what my husband is most worried about that now we've had 1 broody we're going to get more and we'll be doing this every year! I did lots of reading up about broody hens and giving her eggs to hatch seemed the kindest thing, and as I keep reminding him the cube can hold a lot more than 3

 

How often have your hens become broody?

 

Yep all set, I hope! Picked up chick crumb yesterday, with a small feeder bowl and same for water.

 

I never realised it would all be this stressful! We've got 6 eggs, so at best I'm hoping for 3. The plan is to keep all the girls and the boys as long as possible. I would love a cockerel they are sooo beautiful but sadly too many neighbours around here. I was told they don't start cock-a-doodling until 6 months so that gives us time to find homes (fingers crossed) or we've been told about a farm locally that will help do the deed

 

How often will you check on Sunday? Our broody gets annoyed enough with me checking on her several times a day, I'm not sure how I'm going to stop myself camping out on Tuesday!

[mimi5]

Well hybrids rarely go broody So you are either very lucky or unlucky depending on how you look at it

 

With my last hatch I learned loads & had a very different setup with 2 broody hens. This time I have been more relaxed & trusted nature and Martha! I learned that you can hear the chicks cheeping from inside the egg, once the egg has pipped. Last time that was the night before and I've just been out to the classic to check on Martha....I can hear cheeping and also chipping as a chick is working it's way around the shell. Oooooo so excited Will check tonight to see if an have made it out yet,

 

Max is going to be a dad Ah cute fluffies on their way

 

Keep you posted.

[mullethunter]

Lucky you mimi5

[green16]

Not expecting anything to happen until tomorrow but mum just left the nest for a quick eat/drink/stretch and I spotted a cracked egg!! Little opening definitely looks like something is trying to escape. Super excited now but mum is back and not expecting her to move now till morn so fingers crossed for at least 1 healthy little chick tomorrow

 

The cube is now fully patched up so nothing small can escape. We've moved food & drink in and shut the other chooks out so she has complete privacy. Tonight our other girls will be road testing the maternity unit which all going well mum and chicks will be moving to as soon as possible!

[mullethunter]

How exciting!

[mimi5]

Oh my goodness all go for you now!!! Your turn to worry over the hatch If you listen you maybe be to hear the chicks cheeping....it's so sweet

 

So D day tomorrow

 

Oh do keep us posted It's very exciting

[mimi5]

Any cute fluffy sightings yet???

[green16]

Wow what a busy day!!

 

Woke up this morning to see our first chick and the rest followed steadily throughout the day and by late afternoon all 6 eggs had hatched. Can't believe we managed 100% hatch and how amazingly cute they all are! So far mum has been brilliant, very protective keeping them all close, she's only let us have the odd glimpse of them:

 

 

 

[Cat tails]

Really cute! Clever lady!

[mullethunter]

Do you know what the chicks are?

[mimi5]

Ah lovely Well done that mum Well done you too

 

Isn't it amazing????? This hatch is my 3rd and I'm still blown away by how the mums know what to do

 

Great pics I have a short video of my little fluffies.......I'll try and get No1 son on the case Do you know what??? I swear the chicks that hatched on sun have grown already They do grow fast....I'd forgotten that What breed(s) were the eggs??

 

Enjoy chick watching.........but be warned your house with go to wrack and ruin

[green16]

I know they are far too distracting I was supposed to be working from home yesterday but I didn't get much done!

 

The chicks are Araucana's, not sure what colours. We were expecting red but they look like a mixture. These will be our first 'posh' chickens

[mimi5]

Ah the blue egg layers I've been wanting some of these since I started keeping chickens, but the bantam sized

 

Maybe next time I hatch I'll go for it. I did try 3 years ago with my last hatch, got 3 eggs but only one hatched and it died day 3 I've heard they can be aloof and stick together. Be interesting to see what yours turnout like The blue's and red's are rarer colours lucky you

 

So I'm off work today......my turn to get nothing much done.......but chick watching

[Minnie&Moose]

Lovely chicks green16. We hatched out twice in a cube last year and found it great for the first few days - lots of space for the chicks & mum to move around, and very easy to keep them clean. Initially I did it because our cochin is huge and refused to sit in the eglu, but because it was so easy I then let the broody pekin have the cube for her hatch. If we hatch at all this year I'll aim to do it the same way - it was so easy and I didn't have to worry about wet grass and tiny chicks.

[mimi5]

green16 how's it going???? Have you found it ok having mum and chicks in the cube? Have you had much time to chick watch??

 

My little tribe have been out in the run with mum on and off since weds They are growing at an amazing rate

 

More chick watching for me tomorrow After 2 long days at work, it I'll be nice to watch their antics

[green16]

Sorry for late reply. I have been far too preoccupied chick watching

 

Thanks Minnie&Moose I have to admit it wasn't as difficult as I expected hatching them in the Cube and the extra space is great for the first few days.

 

We've moved them all into a separate coop at ground level now within our extended eglu cube run and I can't believe how quick they develop. Already seem so much bigger and I've seen all scratching around for food, preening and even getting a spot of sunbathing in!

 

Mum is causing us the problems now though, with the chicks she's amazing so calm even caught her a couple of times letting them ride on her back! But she is very aggressive towards us. A few days ago 1 chick escaped from the run, I caught it but when I tried to put it back she flew at me pecking my hands to let it go and every since then she won't let us go near. She drew blood on my poor husband! We're now having to wear protective gear just to go in and clean them out & change food & water! Anyone else had this?

 

Interestingly we've had no problems with our other 2 chooks, they are out in a large run next-door but when the chick escaped they were the ones that called out and alerted me to it and I found them keeping close by protecting the little one

[mimi5]

Ah lovely to have an update

 

I have been far too preoccupied chick watching

 

Yes I totally know what you mean All sounds to be going really well

 

As for mum, she is doing a grand job......prehaps a tad too protective Martha my broody mum was more agressive while sitting and I got some jolly good pecks from her! But she is lovely as a mum and lets me handle the chicks everyday Although one of the fiesty chicks (yes I think it's a boy )) gives me a peck when I pick him up I guess you have to go with it, she is doing her job

 

Mine are growing at an amazing rate They are getting tail feathers now. They run around and flap their wings and use mum as an adventure playground