Wow, I am quite surprised. Maybe need to send some more pics of the shed where the chickens are shut in every night to keep them safe. During the day, the door is open so they can free-range and lay their eggs in there. No way I can keep wild birds out.
Has anybody had experience of this before? Some small wild bird is regularly laying eggs in a hen's nest. We removed 4 of these eggs (photo attached with one bantam egg for comparison) but now the hen has gone broody and there are another 3 under her. I am keen for these babies to be hatched...
I totally agree with FrostRanger. Chickens have different temperaments, just like people. You have to get rid of the psychos. There are plenty of roosters out there who are gentle and protective of their ladies and just up for re-homing because of the gene pool. The more you keep him...
Hi, I was trying to post a pic for the calendar. I am not sure whether this has been received, or whether it meets the guidelines? Maybe you can let me know. Thanks, Fluffy07
I did this yesterday in a similar situation. Keep it warm, preferably against your chest under a woolly jumper. It won't need food or water for 24 hours after hatching. When it starts moving and cheeping and holding its head up then you can put it back under mum. If she still rejects it then...
Posting pic of tiny hatchlings born this morning and abandoned in the egg by Mum. After 2 hours + against my chest and under my dressing gown they started to warm up and uncurl. Lots of cheeping and, later, struggling around. Fascinating to hold a premature chick who still had the full yolk...
I would suggest you separate the sick chicks from the rest of the flock, urgently. It might be due to the condition of the mother, or it might be a disease. I would also suggest you get a vet to check them out. Chin up! Fluffy
I don't know how your chick is doing now but it is not premature. It is fully feathered. It might have come from an egg that was hatching earlier than the others. If Mum is still sitting put it under her. If it is in the incubator, then keep it there for a couple of days, with feed and...