[rosie14]

At around 8pm I lifted the broody Orpie for her twice daily stretch, poop and refreshments session and heard cheeping (I almost died of excitement lol!) I thought I heard a cheep this am but decided it must have been one of our many garden birds!

I saw 11 eggs instead of 12 I couldn't find the cheeping chick to begin with but I sadly I found a dead chick in the edge of the nest and 3 others from the Pekin eggs piping soooo happy just hope I get at least one survive if nothing else. I figure the bigger breed hens will be a little later like tomorrow if at all?

My Q. is her nest is quite deep with straw and I wondered *if the chick got trapped at the edge (but of course anything could have happened) I have removed 1/2 the straw bedding but not sure if this is enough  what should I do? And do I really have to wait until morning before I can peek again? I wont be able to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[splash101]

yeah, its soooo exciting.

Not sure about the nest, mine only have a layer of dust free shavings.
I tried them on shavings and straw when we first got them but for some reason they dont like the straw and completly removed it from not only the nest boxes but the coop too. Yet strangely they like it in their run
The chickens i've had in the past havent had a problem with the straw.

I'm sure your broody will rearrange the nest to suit her requirements.

We had one die too, i found it some way from the nest and if its any consolation we have also had eggs in the incubator that managed to hatch but didnt really make it any further. I think it was too exhausted.

You definatley wont be able to sleep, and dont plan on getting any work done for the next week or so 

Good luck with the rest of the hatch

[rosie14]

thanks so much for your reply, I've been trying to find out what to do re the bedding and watching you tube clips endlessly lol and it's a real mix for real life broody hens (rather than brooding artificially) I guess as usual leave mama hen to it as she knows best.

Hurry up morning time!