Well after over 4 weeks (so her original own eggs were all duds, she threw a couple out herself) one of the eggs laid in by another hen (unknown) hatched yesterday lunchtime and after a couple of rescues has settled and survived overnight. With thanks to my TAS visitor who found the hatchling and performed the first rescue before I even knew it had arrived
I have crumbs for it and was prepared to move hen, chick and remaining eggs after 24 hours to a bigger space with daylight but no others have hatched as yet and naturally it is the almost the longest day when it hatches so I am hard pressed to be awake at dawn and dusk to move them under darkness
So, they're currently in the dark nesting area of a small coop with the internal doorway blocked after the chick wandered off and mum remained on the eggs oblivious. She's accepting feed and water without attacking me but is not happy at being moved. The pen I was thinking of is a good size but more for rabbits than hens in origin I think - there are 2 dark end areas and 2 light airy cage fronted areas, all joined up, but I don't know if the hen will get through the gaps if I put her in the dark where she'll be happiest, and if I block the dark bit then they'll have the 2 caged areas but I will put an old horse blanket over at night for her.
So, how/when do I move them - on my own so do eggs go first or hen or chick and a couple eggs - all in daylight to a lit caged area.. OR do I leave them til tonight or another full day where they are to see if anything else hatches?
Oh and expect photos to id the chick - sods law it'll be a boy if there's only one and it survives long enough to decide
but hey, I never thought a hybrid would sit 3 weeks let alone be sitting tight at 4 with a live chick for her troubles so all part of the learning curve for me
I guess if the chick survives to maturity I'll have to call her Annie or him Andy in honour of the midwife