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12:02 pm
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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AlisonandPeter said:
We had a broody hen and thought we would try and sort her out by giving her some fertilised eggs (3). They have all now hatched are the cutest things, but what do I do now. They are in the nesting box of my Omlet Iglu and Ive made a new space the other hens to lay. The chicks have had crumb and water mix and mum has had food and water, but what happens now...? When can I introduce them to their aunties, and what are mum's needs?
I'll try that again!
2:29 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Hmm...the people whom I know would be able to advise you aren't around right now. Having read some previous posts, it seems that it is important to make sure that the hen is actually taking food and water. I'm afraid I'm totally unqualified to help but when Danuta, Joanna and Fiona are around I'm sure they'll pitch right in.
I'll try that again!
11:41 am
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Hi Alison and Peter
There’s no need to add water to the chick crumbs! But check the crumbs evey few hours as the chicks will poop in them. They need access to a small water fountain with sound stones/marbles in the bottom so they can’t drown.
The mother and babies need to be separated from the rest of the flock until they are big enough to stand up for themselves – around three months old. So they need a their own pen and house ideally. We use a chicken ark for our mothers and chicks. Don’t use hay in their house as it can cause respiratory diseases – we use wood chips (the sort that are used for rabbits etc).
Apart from that the mother hen will look after the chicks. Keep feeding the chick crumbs as these contain elements to protect the chicks from disease.
Fiona.
I'll try that again!
6:40 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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More help for Alison and Peter please:
Our chicks are doing very well, and apart from not knowing if they're boys or girls, we are very pleased with their progress. Thankyou for all the help I've had from everyone. It's been so good to be in contact with like minds.
We now have another quandry. Our 'Leader of the gang' hen has become all listless and not a happy girl. She sits around and doesnt want to join in. Also no eggs for two days and today she passed what looks like a sack of egg white with no shell and no yolk. She seems unwell and I wonder if she needs something else in her diet. She has the run of a 200 foot garden with the usual choice of flowerbeds, lawns and veg patch. Does she need more grit than she could find in the garden?
Any ideas will be very welcome.
Thankyou.
Alison
I'll try that again!
7:19 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Lack of shell could be a lack of calcium, but not normally if they are eating commercially prepared product as that normally has it in but you can give ground up egg shells just to make sure. Chickens with the run of the garden normally have enough grit too. Chickens could be a bit up and down too, ours would look a bit peaky and then pick up again just as I was starting to get really worried.
Hopefully someone else may have some more ideas.
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