[DenisCooper]

Hello all,

one of my hens has gone broody and has been sat on her eggs for around 14 days now. She's outside in her coop in the nesting box.

I've read quite a bit on hatching eggs, but most articles i've read are about using an incubator and brooder... since she is sat on them i've left her to her own devices.

What do i need to do when (if) any of the eggs hatch...do i need a heat lamp in the coop? Should i bring them in once they hatched?

Thanks in advance for the advice and tips

Denis

[clydesdaleclopper]

You don't need to do anything as mum will do it all. Just make sure you put out chick crumb for the chicks to start with and a drinker that they can't fall into.

[Marches Farmer]

I start them off with chick crumbs in a saucer (need to keep topping it up as Mum will be very hungry) and water in a similar sized shallow dish.  If they've a safe run Mum will take care of everything for you.  Once she's appeared outside with her chicks for a couple of days I collect the broken eggshells and any unhatched eggs from inside, to keep the nest area clean.

[Eve]

Just remember chicks can get out of the tiniest of gaps. And definitely add marbles to the chicks' water.


I would either move them into a broody coop asap, or on day 20 block off the nest box and temporarily give the other hens another nest box so that the chicks can hatch without the other hens getting to them, then move them after another day.

[DenisCooper]

okay great thanks for the tips...i wasn't sure if i needed to do anything else - just seemed too simple

[chrismahon]

A broody coop is about the same as a rabbit hutch. Essentially it is all on ground level so the chicks can get in and out with the mother. Important the run is secure so the mesh size should be 12mm maximum. The danger to chicks outside is rats. It also needs to be covered to avoid them getting wet or overheating in the sun.