I've got chicks! Following on from yesterdays posts!

Hi
 I have had a broody hen sat on 6 eggs for three weeks today. I had to throw one away because it went bad. One of the eggs is hatching now - has been for a few hours. I had checked on and off all day - and when i looked at 3 oclock, one was outfrom under the hen and partly hatched. She has had it under her and then pushed it out. She has got the other eggs still under her. I thought they hatched out under the hen. Is this normal - do you think she is rejecting it. I have just had a look and i can see the chick and he chirped! The shell is most of the way off - but there is a white membrane left except for a hole about the size of a 20p piece (which is where i can see the chick). Shall i just leave it and see what happens. this is my first go at hatching with a hen - very nervous!!

Hi
thanks for that - the only other thing is its dark now and the temperature is dropping - and she hasnt pulled it under her.  He still isnt out of the shell although the hole does look bigger.  If he was out and she hadnt taken any notice i would bring him in and put him under a lamp.  But as he still hasnt hatched, dont like to do it.  I havent got any electric in the coop they are in.  I just dont want him to die needlessly.
Thanks again

Hi
Went out first thing this morning. As i said i put the egg/chick back under her last night even though it was cold.  When i went out this morning, she had pushed it back out from under her.  It is stone cold and not moving.  Why would she have done that - is she not going to be a good mother? Could she tell if there was something wrong with it - although I can see feathers and a little foot - so it looks as though he had formed alright.  There is another egg pipping now.  I just hope she doesnt do the same with this one.  I can get a lamp incase it is needed - just hope I dont have to.  Would like her to hatch her little family and look after them properly.

you are best not to interfere with the broody or the eggs in the last day or so running up to hatch day, although this bit of advice has sadly come a little bit too late for your little one. The reason for this is that a lot of wild animals will sooner kill their young rather than let a predator take them and hens can sometimes see you as a predator.
Some hens especially young hens when hatching for the first time do seem a little bit awed by the whole situation and for some reason think that the chick that hatches is an intruder and will kill them which is probably what happened to yours and JaK's. When using broodies especially those that are new to hatching it is best to always have a brooder box or electric hen on standby just in case.

Hi
I've got chicks!!!!!
After my posts yesterday, i was really worried that i wouldnt get any live chicks.  I saw that one had pipped at 7 this morning, and when she got off to eat, I had another look and could hear it cheeping! I could hear tapping coming from one of the other eggs.  So i have left her all day and checked on her about 5.30.  I could hear a chirping coming from under her.  Dont know if its one or two although she did have 4 eggs left under her.  My next question is how soon can i lift her to have a look how many are there and if they are alright. So excited!!

Congratulations on your chickies - fab aren't they!

Try not to be too eager to disturb Mum as bonding has to take place between her and the chicks and if you disturb her too many times she may abandon them. Try and wait until she gets up for a drink and then you'll be able to watch them at leisure.

Also, don't be tempted to remove any unhatched eggs - she can tell whether they are alive or dead and will eventually push the dead eggs away.

if you put a dish of chick crumb and a little chick drinker out in their run tomorrow then leave her alone - she will bring the chick/chicks out when she and they are ready. I know it is difficult to not interfere but you must really try not to.

thank you very much - its really great - but such a big learning curve! i am asking advice on here every step of the way! And getting great sound solid advice - really plesed with such great back up. I should be better next time! thanks again