| Thu, Aug 18 2011 03:32pm BST 1 |
Desi
2 Posts
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I have a Silkie-Seabright hen that is sitting on eggs. One has
hatched. The nesting box is off the floor and I am wondering if I
should move her to the large chick box where she can hatch the
rest. Usually, when hens want to hatch, they lay an egg everyday
until they get the amount they want to hatch, then they sit so
they all hatch at the same time. This little gal did not do that.
She sat right from the beginning of her broodiness and maybe I
should have intervened and not let her do that but I just wanted
her to be happy in fulfilling her mommy desires. The father of
the hatch is a Serama rooster so it will be interesting seeing
how they turn out.
I feel it is dangerous for the chicks if more hatch being up so
high? There is no room in the nesting box for me to put food and
water in it for them. I did put food and water outside the small
ramp running along the nesting boxes for the hen to get food and
water without leaving the box.
What would you suggest? Leave her alone or move her. Would that
upset her? I am sure it probably would but it would be for the
best for her and the chicks.
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| Thu, Aug 18 2011 06:00pm BST 2 |
weeley
92 Posts
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Hi Desi
With the first broody I had (mind you, I've only had 2), two
chicks hatched, and after a day she led them out, down the ramp,
to the food, and deserted the eggs which hadn't yet hatched.
The second time, I put the broody in a rabbit hutch small enough
so she could sit on the eggs and still have the chicks near her,
but large enough to have food and chick crumb in there, too. I
still only got two chicks (the others apparently weren't strong
enough to get out of the shell), but I think I would have only
got one if I hadn't put her in that set-up. A more experienced
friend said that the mum will always lead the chicks out to food
after a day - they won't risk losing a live chick for the sake of
an unhatched batch of eggs.
I'm not experienced - someone else might have better advice for
you, but I know what it's like when you don't know what to do!
Hopefully she'll sit tight overnight and you can make a decision
for her this evening. Let me know how you get on?
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| Sat, Aug 20 2011 09:57am BST 3 |
Topflight
52 Posts
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Hi desi, Broody hens will start sitting from day one of laying an
egg, so if your bird lay,s half a dozen eggs there will be six
days from the first one hatching to the last, This is to long a
broody will keep sitting for a couple of days only after the
first egg hatches so you will lose the later laid eggs. Chicks do
not need feeding for the first couple of day,s as they live off
the egg sack also the hen will feed them with the hatched
shell,s. I suggest you set your broody on dummie eggs till you
have enough to set under her at the same time,you will get a
better hatch and all that are going to hatch usually hatch over a
24hr period. hope this helps.
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| Sun, Aug 28 2011 11:21pm BST 4 |
Lewis
113 Posts
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She will be ok for now. The chicks won't really venture very far
for the first 2 or 3 days and they absorb the yolk sac to feed from
and can survive without food for about 72 hours.
Maybe pop her with the chicks and eggs, lower down at night so
they she settles on them straight away.
That way the chicks aren't in danger of falling and you can put
chick crumb and water down for them.
You may need to watch that she doesn't get off any eggs that were
laid last, that she is sitting on as they will be 6 days behind
development. You may need to encourange her to sit on them for
longer or use an incubator if you have one.
Good luck!
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| Sat, Sep 24 2011 01:14pm BST 5 |
meredith MMH
1 Posts
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Hi,
I've got the same sort of problem, my silkie had layed an egg in
the nest and had started sitting on it, this was 4 days ago and
she's know got 3, I've ordered 6 eggs on line which should be
coming in 5 days time. Should I leave her in the broody coop with
the 3 eggs and just add the 6 when they get here?
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