staggered hatching expected

[Anonymous]

Hi all
I am a first timer to this forum.

I have 3 hens and one male wyandotte. They are 8 months old and one is laying everday since 6 months and some days I am getting 2 eggs. One of the girls has been sitting on the eggs for about 10 days so I haven't been collecting them.
The problem is that the eggs will not all hatch at the same time.
Do I remove the chicks as they hatch to keep her broody for the rest, or will she stay on them until they all hatch?

I am planning to close the door to the coop she is in to stop the others laying in that box for now.

Also about 8 days into the process she left the eggs for over an hour when I let them all out of the run for a wander. Will those eggs still be ok for hatching or is that to long for her to be off them?

 

[VALBURNHAM]

I am sure if she left them for an hour that will not cause any problems. I had an incubator go off for three hours and all the chicks hatched fine.
They say that hens will usually sit for a couple of days after first chick hatched and then leave the others to look after chicks so its really a difficult one. Last year my neighbour went away and when he returned he had no eggs and the person looking after them had not taken eggs cause there was a hen on the nest. Turned out very like you she had been sitting and pinching all the other hens eggs. We went up and candelled them taking all the fertile ones up to my broody. She did actually sit for nearly three days after the first hatched although I did put food and water actually in the pen with her so she could feed her chicks. She hatched all but one.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Val,
So if I put food & water in the brooder box for the chicks, she might stay longer?
The brooder box is upstairs (up ramp) in the coop. I don't think the chicks could get down safely. Should I be thinking of moving her to a Rabbit hutch or would that upset her at this stage?
I would like the chicks to be raised by their mum, but I would like her to hatch all nine if possible. Would removing the chicks when they hatch make her stay on the other eggs?
Jo

 

[VALBURNHAM]

I would only put food and drink in with hen only once some chicks have hatched so she can feed them etc without leaving the remaining eggs. She needs to be getting off to poop every day so food and drink outside till first chick hatches or she will poop in the nest box and that would not be good. It also needs to be far enough away that she does not spill the water.
Im really not sure if you take chicks off her if it will make her stay longer my instinct is that she would as she wants some chicks but I really not had experience of this. Have you candelled the eggs to see how far on they are maybe you will find that they are all at a similar stage. Often a hen will lay a clutch and not actually start sitting to hatch until she has a large enough batch.

 

[Chuck]

I think you need to make preparations to remove the first chicks which hatch or she will probably come off the other eggs after 48 hours to be with the chicks. She will not sit as tightly when the chicks hatch either.

You will be lucky to get all the chicks unless you remove the first hatched to a box with an electric bulb (old style) for heat.

 

[Anonymous]

Took 2 chicks off her yesterday as she hopped off the nest and appeared to be calling to them to come down the ramp. With a third egg hatching I didn't want her to give up just yet. The first two are adorable and doing well in a box with bulb, eating and drinking ok. Checked mum this morning and chick number 3 was under her.
If she stays on the nest today that one can stay with her tonight, otherwise it can join it's sisters in the box.
I'll be sure to make sure there are no more staggered hatchings in future.
(can we upload photos to this forum, if so, how?)