Day 21 Tomorrow

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MitchaRooster

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Hey everyone, im a complete newbie to the site and Hatching chicks so i'm after some help. One of my hens went broody about 3 and ahalf weeks ago so i got her some fertile eggs from a local supplier. She will have been sitting on these eggs for 21 days tomorrow. My problem is that she is sitting in a nestbox that attaches directly to the coop where my other 3 hens roost at night. I have recently become aware that the other hens may kill the chicks so i need to know if i should move my broody hen to her new coop now, that i got especially for her and the chicks, or to wait untill the morning and lock the other 3 out when i let them out into the garden?

Any help would be appreciated although i am aware of the short notice. Thanks.
 
Hi there,

Normally, she would have been settled on her eggs in a new house but since it's so late in the day, I would keep her where she is until the chicks have hatched. This could take 24- 36 hours for all to hatch and then ideally they should be left a further 12 - 24 hours or so to dry off and get used to mum. If they get disrupted before they bond, she may leave them / peck them and so on.

Ideally, could you make a temporary fence around her? Even out of cardboard taped in place? Just to separate her from your hens for a few days. Once the chicks are out from underneath her and she has stopped sitting on the eggs and sits on her chicks you can move her and chicks safely - they will stay together and follow one another.

I hope this helps. I'm not going to be around much over the next couple of days but will try to check back to see how you get on.

Tim.
 
Thanks for the advice Tim, I've put the cardboard in so she is in solitary. Do u think i should place some feed and the chick drinker in the nest box? Its about 2 feet in size. Or shall i just lift her out?
 
She should always have water even if it's just a really small container for now - and you could place some feed in there for her. The chicks don't need to eat for the first 24 hours and she will not leave the other eggs until most have hatched anyway...so just food for her for now. If chicks are coming out and she is clucking, showing them the food then you need to put chick crumbs down too...

Good Luck and hope you can post some pics when they hatch ??

Tim
 
Ok, so far only one chick has hatched out of the six. Two of the other eggs have marks on them but nothing has pipped? yet. Wondering if we are gonna be unlucky enough to only have one egg hatch. One good note the solo chick is doin really well. Its now been 24 hours since the chick hatched, how long shall i wait untill i dispose of the other eggs? Also the mother hen still seems keen to sit on these eggs and has infact insisted on staying on them. Can she sense something alive inside? Any advise would be great. Thanks.
 
If it is day 21 tomorrow then the chick hatched already is a bit early, so I'd not be in too much of a hurry and wait for the offical due date and 48 hours past this at least before possibly calling it a day on eggs hatching.

I always wait at least 48 hours after the first chick has hatched when using a broody. Then I usually just check to see if there is anything happening or chicks pipping. Often they are hatching but you can't hear it as the hatched chick is cheeping. Often listening quietly for 10 minutes you can hear if any are pipping. They can take 24 hours to make it out of a shell. I don't disturb before then.

If after 72 hours (from day 21, not before) no more have hatched I tend to candle and take a look. If nothing to be seen or it appears chicks died in shells I move the broody and her chick(s) off them and take them away.
 
Hey guys, sorry its been so long to reply but ive been enjoying the benefits of our hatch. Only one chick hatched and we named it Dunebug, but now after 5 months im affraid Dunebug is going to have to leave us as he has become a very handsome rhode island rooster. No crowing yet but he has sprouted long green tail feathers and is very protective of my hens. Is the no crowwing normal or could it be that he has no competition for his ladies? Hope your all well and safe. Mitch
 
Hi Mitch,

Sounds like it could be a Rooster - He should have a large comb and wattles by now compared to your hens and tail feathers as you say. Normally they start crowing (of a sort) by 10 - 12 weeks old.
 
Well Tim, would u say its a Rooster or just a butch Hen?
 

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Can't see the wattles or comb - but with the bit of comb I can see and the tail feather, I'd say a young rooster.
 
Hi Mitch,
I'm afraid he looks just like my cockerels did. They didn't crow until much older either, one never did but had beautiful long tail feathers & big comb. They are so beautiful its such a shame we can't keep them all isn't it?
 
Its ok that he might be a rooster my friend in cornwall wants to adopt him and cross him with some of her sussex's i think. Means i can go visit him and maybe have some of his babies lol. Thanks for replying tim and Lucy. I might even keep him myself and see if he we get any chicks from my own hens, especially if he likes the hen i posted in my other picture post. Thanks again for your advice and opinions.
 
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