[AnnaB]

Have hatched a few chicks in the past with varied success, some good mothers and some less good.  One dutifully hatched them then killed the lot.  I have 2 Dorkings and 1 went broody so I left her sitting on some eggs, there were 5.  Now I know this is dumb but I didn't think to mark the ones I left ....and after a few days realised the broody hen was getting off each day to let the other chicken in to lay.  So then there were 11 eggs all at different stages ....doh!
Yesterday I noticed both chickens in the same nest box and the broken shell of a virtually ready to hatch chick so dead chick ahhhh.  Clearly more were going to go the same way as two mother hens tried to be boss, they look identical so I didn't know which one was the original broody and which one the follower on so it was a bit late to move mother and eggs to a different hutch.  Given the different egg ages I borrowed an incubator (never used 1 before) from a colleague.  This mother hen decided the natural ones were going to mess up the job and put all remaining 10 eggs in the incubator.

So now to my questions

Given the apparent maturity of the dead chick I have not set the incubator to rotate and have increased the humidity.  OK for the ones nearly ready but will this be very bad for the others ....and as I don't know which are which ......

When they hatch will the broody hen take them back or will I have to rear them inside under a heat lamp ?

ie how dumb are chooks ? Will she remember her eggs disappeared or just be pleased the chicks have hatched ?

I have a separate house the new mum and chicks can live in but it would be sad if she didn't mother them.

When can they go outside ?

Good job I'm on holiday from the day job !

Thanks for any helpful hints ........or indeed being told I've done this wrong .......

Anna

[AnnaB]

And 1 chick hatched this evening ..........

Most internet says OK to leave in incubator for a day or so.

2 chickens and cockerel on perch in hen house tonight.

I'm guessing this means the hens have got bored and I need to go get a heat lamp tomorrow.

Anna

[in the hills]

If you took away all the broodies eggs, she has probably given up being broody.


You could try putting her in your separate house on some rubber eggs or a couple of fresh eggs to see if she will resume sitting but think it will be too late. I would set up a box with heat lamp ASAP. Takes a couple of hours to warm up to correct temperature. They will need the lamp until fully feathered at 6-8 wks of age.

[SouthMains]

I would definitely give it a go at getting her back onto eggs.  Then in the evening when she is all settled just pop the chicks under her.  I have put chicks in that are up to a week old and still the mum will take them.  There is a risk if you don't that as soon as see shes the chicks  in 5 week time when you start to harden them off she will just go broody again.  I always hatch some eggs in the incubators s i have one hen who is a fantastic mum but doe snot like to be moved to a separate broody house and we get exactly the same problem with other hens laying in the nest or her deciding to go sit on a different clutch, so we hatch them for her then give her the chicks and she takes over....which is way easier than heat lamps etc

[AnnaB]

 An update chickens out patrolling so decided no chance of her rearing chicks. 1hatched next day then it was a week before the next' since when they are hatching 1 a day !
Bought a broody plate thing which the chicks seem to like.
The incubator has been on and off rotate because each time an egg gets a pip I stop it so the chick doesn't get thrown about, also kept humidity high.  I think I'm doing everything not how the instructions say but so far have 5 chicks.
Now wonder how many are boys .......
Thanks for replies, this has been a learning experience !

[chrismahon]

Next time AnnaB put the broody in a coop at ground level with a secure run on her own and make sure she is completely mite and louse free. Make sure she gets up to eat and drink, even if you have to lift her off -their legs can seize and be paralised. For best results she should be two years old or older. Young broodies do eat their chicks as they hatch -we've had one. Once the first chicks have hatched and are a day old she will abandon the rest that are unhatched  to show the babies how to eat and drink. They should have chick crumb only available and a shallow tray of water -mum will eat that as well. If you want to use chickck crumb with ACS it's OK, but whilst it stops Coccidiosis it does inhibit growth substantially.

[SouthMains]

thast really intresting about the treated crumb inhibiting groth, is this true also for treated growers? 

[chrismahon]

Never used treated growers SouthMains. But the ACS does inhibit gut function so it must inhibit growth. Chicks on ACS crumb were the same size at 12 weeks as ours without ACS at 8 weeks. We used Dobson and Horrell crumb without and gave them a spot of probiotic yoghurt at day 2 to promote digestive startup. The others were under a broody and she wouldn't let me near them to give yoghurt, so that may have had an effect on growth as well. Chicks digestive systems are so inefficient the mother will eat their poos as food!

[AnnaB]

Octavius, ie number 8 hatched yesterday almost 2 weeks after "Ben" have decided that one must be male because its an aggressive specimen, despite me being ..mum....he pecks and jumps at me, flew at the cage bars this morning.  They are in a large dog cage with a box covering the bottom.

Now another question

The yolk sac, my reading says that is absorbed into the chick before it hatches.  Several of the 8 seemed to have a yellow membrane with a bit of stuff in it either stuck to the egg shell or hanging off the chick.  Does this mean they didn't absorb the yolk sac properly or is this normal ?

Internet suggests they could have immunity problems 'cos they miss some of mums Igs ...thoughts ?

All of them seem to be eating drinking and pooing (in vast quantities) apart from 7 and 8 which are only 2 and 1 day old.

They all seem healthy and alert.  Many can fly onto the top of the broody and sit on top rather than underneath.

Thanks for all your replies.

Anna