Hatching in Eglu go

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Sally10

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Just found this forum, everyone seems great ?

I have a bit of a problem, and wondered I’d any one could offer some advice.

I put some eggs under my broody bantam, hatch date is this Saturday, she was in the Eglu go, so left her in there.

If anyone is familiar with the go you will know that it has plastic removable bars at the bottom, so these need to be covered before chicks hatch.

If you remove the bars it also takes away the nest area so can’t do that,so I cut some Lino and put some anti slip Matt on top and laid it on top of the bars, which I think would work fine, the only trouble is broody is very upset when I put this in, I put it in at night and in the morning lifted her off the nest for breakfast, bu then she wouldn’t go back in was alarmed that something was slightly different. I was worried she was never going to go back to the eggs so took it back out again, and peace was restored.

So now I’m not too sure what to do as can’t leave it as it is, I thought maybe I could fill it with it with bedding so there were no gaps, but I’ve read your not supposed to use anything like that as the chicks may eat it, and I’m not sure if that would work anyway.

I’m worried to try the Lino again in case she abandons the nest do you think this could happen? Any advice much appreciated, as never done this before.

Thanks
 
Hi Sally and welcome to the Forum.
i used to have an Eglu Classic, which had a separate depression for the nest box area, and the central part was removable bars for roosting on, as you describe. Is your hen settled in this area, or in the nest box? It sounds as if the roosting area and the nest box are all connected, in your Eglu Go, could you explain a bit more how this works?
Did you have any bedding under the hen when she started to sit? It may be that lino was too stiff and a different feel to what she was used to. If you covered the bars with just the anti-slip mat, or a layer of softer cloth, and then put her normal bedding on top, the chicks should be safe and the hen might get used to it more easily. Traditionally, straw has been used as bedding for hens, or you could try Aubiose, which is easier to keep clean and is very absorbent. Hay isn't a good idea as its dustier than straw, and also the finer strands can wrap round a chick's feet.
I would make her comfortable this evening and then shut her up for the night. She won't have much option other than to sit on the eggs in that little coop, will she, and by morning she will probably have accepted the idea.
Please do let us know how she gets on! Is she a first-time Mum, and how many eggs is she on?
 
Hi, thanks so much for your reply. Yes that’s correct the nest box and roosting area are all connected and can’t be separated

Here is a link to pic on google. If link works!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=eglu+go&client=safari&channel=ipad_bm&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi526nGhqvjAhWGRxUIHX14DegQ_AUoAnoECA0QAg&biw=1024&bih=666#imgrc=OYuvaxmKTy7BRM

I had some big flake shavings with a bit of straw under her, I don’t normally have anything on the roosting bars, I did put some straw on top of the Lino to see if that would work but she still didn’t like that ? I can get some aubios but think I read that the chicks may try and eat it?

She’s a first time mum, sitting on 6 blue booted bantam eggs, ? I candled them at 7 days and few days ago and they all look good ( I think)
 
Just to put your mind at rest about one thing Sally. I have reared chicks all my life and used shavings in the past and more recently Bliss or Aubiose and chicks do not try to eat it. So long as they have access to chick crumbs and water this is not a problem you need to worry about.
 
Thank you hen gen , that is good to know, I think broody hen would be happier with this. My local store sells easi chick think I will get some tomorrow
 
The easichick bedding worked, ? built it up so that there are no gaps, she didn’t mind this at all, just waiting now ?
 
Well, I can see 3 babies ? cant see any more though ? she hasn’t been off the nest since Friday morning I’ve been giving her some soaked chick crumb which I’ve seen her eat a bit of, Do you think I should lift her off to see if the other 3 eggs are hatching or shal I just leave her? Concerned she’s not had a drink or much to eat since Friday morning. Thanks for your help ?
 
Yes, they do sit tight at this stage. Newly hatched chicks don’t eat for the first 24 hours so they’ll be fine. If the other eggs do not hatch she’ll desert them and lead her chicks off the nest. Just make sure that the family have access to shallow water so they can’t drown and chick crumbs. Bantams are usually excellent mothers and so you’ll be able to sit back and watch the chicks grow.
 
You may need a step Sally, so the chicks can get in and out of the door more easily? From my experience I would avoid using aubiose until they are 3 months old. We used it with 2 or 3 week old chicks and it cut their feet to pieces- lots of bandages required. We used to rear ours from day 7 on kiln dried sand, which works well and they don't try eating it- perhaps we were lucky?
 
Thanks so much for replies, we got 6 put of 6 ? I’m made up, she was still sitting this morning so I just gently pushed her off and then there was no stopping her they’ve been out n the sun most of the day. All gone back in with no problems, I made a little ramp so they could get back in.
 
Congratulations Sally. Growing chicks make fascinating watching.
You will need to prepare yourself for the disposing of cockerels at a later date. It’s not a pleasant job but we all have to go there.
Are you planning to keep the pullets?
 
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