| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 06:11:31 AM
I just went down to let the chickens out for the day and Isabella has a chick poking its head out from underneath her!!!! She actually did it!! There might be more under there, but I'm not going to poke around to see. ;)
So here are my questions - from the farmgirl who has only ever hatched chicks from an incubator. ;) So....Isabella and the babies are obviously up in the nesting box, about 24 inches off the ground. Do I need to put food and water up there for her? How will the chicks get out? Do they just flop to the floor? Does Isaballa push them out? There are 6 other adults (one of them a rooster) and 8 ten week old chickens in the coop with her (although they free range all day) - do I need to worry about the other chickens bothering Isabella and her babies? Do I need to separate anyone?
I'm wanting Nature to take over here and assuming I don't have to do much of anything...but just wondering from farmgirls who have "been there, done that."
I am SOOOOOO excited!!! I didn't think any of them were going to hatch!! I will keep you updated as to how many more hatch...
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 1:35:07 PM
LOL, thanks for the information ladies. Currently I can see two chicks. We will see what happens. All together she has 7 eggs, but some of those were laid much later so I am assuming they aren't going to hatch. I put some chick starter in the nest for mama to munch on and two little chicks popped out from underneath her and wen nuts eating! It was hilarious :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 11:51:03 AM
I had the same situation happen. On Day 2, all of my eggs had hatched, and so I took Mom and the chicks down and actually moved them to my garden. I only did this because my hen coop is not snake proof, and I keep them in a special place in my garden @ night. When the chicks were hatching, I held up water to Mom and the first hatching chicks, and then put some feed in the nest, which they gobbled up. Then, on Day 2, I removed them. If there had been more eggs, I would have given it an extra day, but no longer than that. :0)
Yes, the mama was irritated, but actually she was my shyest hen and tolerated being handled very well. Then again, I have another hen that will try and tear you up. This one is currently broody (oh, lucky me), but I am not letting her set eggs, so that means I have to collect eggs from her daily. Honestly, I put one hand around her neck while I pull out the eggs, lol. Not tightly, I mean, just like a collar, you see? Lol.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| EastTXFarmgirl |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 06:56:37 AM
Amy, chances are she will get them down in a day or two. If she has been unable to get them onto the floor after the second day take a small dish towel to the nest with you, gently place it (you will actually have to kind of gently throw it because she is not going to be happy) over her head covering her eyes (I don't care how much that chicken loves you if she thinks you are getting her babies she will eat you alive). With the towel over her head covering the upper part of her body and head you can easily pick her up. Be careful not to squeeze any chicks that may be tucked up under her. I kind of open her wings as I'm picking her up. But whatever you do don't let that head come uncovered. Hold her under one arm and take each baby out one at a time and place it on the floor. You have to move pretty quick because mom is going to be fighting mad. Once all the babies are down clean out the nest box they were hatched (still holding mom) I carry a bucket in with me to put all the shells in. If there are unhatched eggs be very careful not to turn them. They must come out of the nest and go to a safe corner on the floor just the way you found them. If you turn them there is a chance the chick will stick to the shell and not be able to get out. If those eggs have not hatched in three days get them out of your hen house they are no good and will attract unwanted guest. Once babies and eggs are safely in a corner and you have water and chick starter close by release mom with her head pointed in the direction you want her to go. Remember she is MAD. Then leave them alone for the rest of the day. Mom will take over from there. It may be several days before she brings them out of the house. Give them fresh food and water a couple times a day. I put a small piece of plywood on the floor and put the waterer and feeder on that. I say hold onto mom while you do everything because once you release her you want to get out as quickly as possible so that she will rebond with her eggs and chicks. If you hang around she will concentrate on how she is going to eat you and knock her babies and eggs all over the place. My husband made me a viewing window in the door of my hen house so that I can watch them but not disturb them. They don't even know I am there. I also free range and put the chickens up at night. I have never seperated the mom & chicks from the others. They all do just fine. There may be days as they grow that everyone gets into a tit for tat show out but it usually resolves its self. The only problem I have run into is when we had more than one hen that hatched at the same time. They fought constantly over the chicks. But with some mild interference from my walking stick that also quickly resolved.
Hope this is helpful.
Victoria
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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