Ok Ive been letting a broody hen sit on her eggs for about 25 days now.... I was just about to go take them thinking they were not fertilized and as I picked one up it peeped at me! there is just a small hole in the shell. She is sitting on 3 eggs so I put the egg back but since I thought it was a dead egg I didn't pay any mind to which way I picked it up. I put it back down so the hole was on the side. What should I do was that right?? Should I bring the eggs inside to let them hatch or should I leave them with the hen and hope for the best? The weather is still pretty warm here. Thank you for any help!!
Hatching egg question
You did just fine. Let them be, it has pipped and should hatch within the next twelve hours and maybe sooner. Leave the other eggs alone as well so you don't upset the broody and if they don't hatch! well nothing lost. Good luck and enjoy your new beauties. Haystack
I have one newly hatched baby. I will take pics in the morning :D
Congrats!
Congrats of becoming a new Mommy. We are all happy for you and will enjoy the pic's. Haystack
congrats! can't wait to see the pics
Here are the pics as promised.
it has some cute little fuzzy legs
Last one of the sweet face
Oh-so-cute! I love little chickens. How many did you end up with?
Still just the one but she isn't giving up so I figure I will give her a few more days.
Congrats !!!!! Your new baby is so sweet.
This has been a strange year. Usually Hens do not set this late in the season, do they? With cold weather on the way , Do you have special plans for the Mother and her young?
We don't get all that cold here but I do have her set up in my garage for now. My coop is really not set up for babys yet. I will have to do some modifications so they will be comfy over the winter.
When I checked this morning one if the eggs was out to the side of the nest and it was pretty cold. Should I assume the egg is dead or should I put it back under her?
Awwww! Its a pretty sure thing that Mama has kicked it out. A Hen will know if it didnt survive so she wont waste effort on incubating it. Sorry!
This was the only egg to hatch and I have a question about mama now. She has been having some pretty explosive and watery diarrhea. She also is not eating as she should be and has lost a good bit of weight. She shows the baby to food but I rarely see her eat. Is this a normal thing or is something wrong? Again Im a first timer here so if its is normal, Ill deal but darn its nasty!
I dont know about mama , sounds as if shes a bit under the weather...generally most Moms will not leave the nest to eat when she knows the chicks are about to hatch. Once hatched, Moms get right in there and eat and scratch , teaching the kids how to fend for themselves. Keep an eye on her and if you notice any sneezing or runny eyes and nose vents , You would probably be best to separate babykins from Mom. A small aquarium and light works great as a brooder.
You can get some powdered antibiotic to put in her water. That should help. It is common for the hen to show the chick the food and not eat herself. But losing weight is not good. I'd get the antibiotic asap.
Thank you, Where do you get the meds?
Feed store, Tractor Supply...?