[It-needed-a-home]

Hi everyone,

So eventually i have a broody hen and now am beginning to wonder if  hens need any help throught incubation and also after they hatch do i just leave them to get in with it seperate them or leave them will she get on ok ?

cheers

 i have some   i want a

[bamford6]

i do it this way /iff you wont broodis get some copper tops /sussex cross with silki .put eggs under leave for 10 days give her a feed and drink hold the bowl she will drink naw check the eggs candle them .iff the eggs are fertile leave well alone .iff there is say 3 put chicks to her after 2 days att night .i keepa a record on the mums and a good bird will do 10 chicks .iff you had 5 off these birds you could do new stock everey yere .no boxes incubater heat lamps so its worth it . the keepers have these birds to hatch the partriges and can be bought cheap.we sell for £2 each and onley hatch in june so they will be broodey after christmas .

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,

  if your hen is sitting on some fertilised eggs and you want her to hatch them leave a couple of days to make sure she's serious about it, dust her with mite powder and move her to a safe secluced coop or broodt box. If your affraid of upsetting her do it in the evening after dusk. Give her access to food and water as Gary says and she will get off the nest once a day to toilet and feed. candle the eggs at 10 days onward if you wish and disguard any empty \ undeveloping eggs. If your not confident in doing this just leave her and wait at around 21 days ( dependant on type and temp ) the eggs will hatch. throw away the shells and disguard any eggs that still havent hatched after 24hours from the last chick. Again if your not sure a good broody will abandon any unhatched chicks after a suitable period. The chicks wont need to eat for the first 24 hours but when they do give mum and babies chick crumb and a little boiled egg if you wish. Make sure that the water is in a chick drinker to prevent them drowning. If the broody coop has a run attached mum will get the babies out and about as soon as the time and weather is right. Mum will really appreciate a dust bath with a splash of parasite powder in it at this point as well as a few treats to get her condition back on. She may loose lots of feathers at this point and will appreciate any protine rich foods to help her to replace them.

Lastly, post pictures of your chicks on the site

Buffy

[It-needed-a-home]

Thanks will do!!

speak soon!

[Hermit]

We have had a suspiciously looking hen skiddadling around lately. Just found her on a nest in the old hay store. We are pulling it down to build a new shed and low and behold at the bottom of the hay there she was. She is now safely tucked away in a broody coop!