Happy Autumn! Unexpected babies today....

[crowmama]

Up to 15 as of thia morning, and she is a great, mellow Mother! Babies are healthy.

What is the largest hatch you've seen survive?

She really squaks at us if we try to mess with the remaining eggs. So, maybe there will be more?

 

[BDutch]

What is the largest hatch you've seen survive?

Last year I had 11 eggs under 2 bantam broodies. 9 made it.

 

[crowmama]

Last year I had 11 eggs under 2 bantam broodies. 9 made it.

 

[crowmama]

We are going to take the rest of the eggs (ten left) and put them in an incubator.
Have a feeling she will smoother them accidently otherwise.
Baby pictured is #16

 

[BDutch]

Anyway congrats with 16 lovely chicks.

What are your/your daughter’s plans with all these chicks when they become juveniles?

 

[dusta]

Had a game hen that started laying when her chicks were 3-4 weeks old. From one hen ...most were pullets the y grew to 125 in about two years.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

So this is a thing today!

One of my daughter's hens, was hiding, and brooding...
We found her/them this morning ~ 14 so far

What's the biggest hatch you all have seen survive with a hen?

We got her in a secure coop alone, with babies.
Chick feed, and plenty of water for her, and them.

Optional heat lamp we can turn on, if our weather turns for the worst. t'll help keep the cold out (coop is attached to our non-insulated barn wall)

Wish us luck!

What a surprise! The babies are so cute! Did anymore hatch?

 

[RcoM]

That's amazing!! You are very blessed! This might help me too. I have a hen on eggs but I want to give her some that are in the incubator but due the same day or the one after. I wanted to know, is 17 chicks too many for one big Sussex hen to keep warm? (It's Spring here and currently nice weather). Second question: do I need a bigger nest box? It looks like it just fits her with the eggs ...so I am not sure whether to replace the nest box once they hatch ? Or maybe when they are bigger?

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

That is a nice surprise. So cute!

 

[BDutch]

Second question: do I need a bigger nest box? It looks like it just fits her with the eggs ...so I am not sure whether to replace the nest box once they hatch ? Or maybe when they are bigger?

A bigger nestbox with room to walk around and where you can feed and water is very important after the hatch. Outside space becomes important after a week.