Natural Egg Hatching

[The Porch]

So, hen and 2 chicks huddled and off nest. Checked 2 eggs...one liquid and I tossed, other chirping and pipping. I picked up hen, took chicks to nest and indignant, complaining hen got back on!! Stay there. That last will happen in couple hrs if she does. . I swear, I'm working harder than her!

your not kidding--- this is work,
I have been having to fight the flock off,
For some reason they all wanted to get in the brooding nest box/go after the broody hens and chicks/ I dont know what they would have done but I didnt want to find out, it was total mayhem

I currently have the flock out of the coop- their water/food/nesting box are out in the run
I am not letting them back in the coop-- I'll go out after tea and fix up something- but HOLY COW, I have never seen anything like this,,,,

 

[Mini Horses]

Which is why I use big dog kennels. Close for safety. This damned hen is on my porch. Couldn't move ... Will next week, to the barn and kennel to secure them at night. only 3 chicks??

 

[The Porch]

Which is why I use big dog kennels. Close for safety. This damned hen is on my porch. Couldn't move ... Will next week, to the barn and kennel to secure them at night. only 3 chicks??

I have used my dog kennels and I did,
I went out to the storage container and got the small one [ I have all 3 sizes]
this was 4pm yesterday

OMGoodness--- that is broody #3 on top,

 

[The Porch]

I read that is the flock sinces a sickly hen or chick they will try to kill it to protect the flock from diseases [even though they dont know the why, they are wired to do this]
WELL, anyway- I had hung the food and water outside the coop,
I removed the lame chick from the coop,
3 of the hens gave up, and the wildest one kept it up until 6pm,

and for Gods sake thank you Lord, no one is doing it this morning,

 

[The Porch]

Which is why I use big dog kennels. Close for safety. This damned hen is on my porch. Couldn't move ... Will next week, to the barn and kennel to secure them at night. only 3 chicks??

the hens want what they want
I read in order it make walking easier for the one chick remove nesting and use a towel -- boy did hen have a fit about that,, I put the nesting back

 

[Mini Horses]

last was grey...only 12-18 hrs but staying with others. Be ok in another day. Will move all tomorrow, after she's aware there's 3 and they're moving together well.. Doing fine this am...talking to all 3. Eating cat food starter & water out for her and chicks. Hope not 3 roos for dinners.

 

[The Porch]

View attachment 23692last was grey...only 12-18 hrs but staying with others. Be ok in another day. Will move all tomorrow, after she's aware there's 3 and they're moving together well.. Doing fine this am...talking to all 3. Eating cat food starter & water out for her and chicks. Hope not 3 roos for dinners.

They look good!

 

[CLSranch]

. Eating cat food

My first thought's after seeing that pic. What the?? not chicken feed that I've ever seen.... oh dog food??? no and why's the chicken eating it??? oh yeah they'll eat anything.

 

[Mini Horses]

My chickens love cat food....cats have to fight for it

Momma & 3 chicks good....last hatched much stronger today, as expected. She had them out with scratching and calling to eat bugs yesterday ants? Love to watch these hens teaching.

 

[The Porch]

All was fine in the coop yesterday.
Broody hen #2 when I wentt into the coop I noticer she was standing, facing her eggs, I quickly went over, HOLY COW - I must have gotten there just as she had done it- she had stepped on one and broke it. I was a fully feathered tiny chick, still in the big half of the egg with a lot of yolk--I scooped it all up in one hand and took it out.
thats just how it goes sometimes-- so she now has only 4 eggs left--hatch date is the 30th/1st

I took time and removed the covering from the hen with chicks, I stood guard.......
the flock was fine, looking and walking around, wanting to see what the nest was all about and never bothered the chicks.
But, the ring leader, did a stare down with mamma hen, and mamma hen and Alpha went at it--Rooster stormed in and got in the middle, baby chicks were fine so I didnt get involved,
I think this was a win for my littlest hen-AKA Mamma,, she did fine, and there wasnt another issue.
I had to go finish my house work so I put the cage back. I'll do it again later today, its onle 50 out.

I noticed yesterday, Mamma hen is starting to poop normally, no broody poop,,