Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

My chicks are due to hatch tomorrow, sitting under my silkie.

I have been taking her out every day, off the nest, putting her at feeders and water and she eats, drinks, stretches and I give her a little dust bath. Last time she got too skinny for my liking, kept ing in her box and got mites and only saw her come out every 3rd day or so. This time she is lively, much healthier, free nesting box and mite free (the herbs I put in the nest box this time sure have helped a lot)

My question is: should I leave her be tomorrow? Or check the eggs first thing in the morning and if none hatched sneak her out for a quick feed etc because I suspect hatching will be two or so days and she won't leave the nest at that point.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Yup if nothing is hatching it won't hurt to have her walk around, eat drink and stink bomb the place.

My most recent broodies did get themselves off the nest for the call of nature [both Silkies] and to eat and drink. However, my 2 cochins both seemed damned and determined that they will not get off that nest without a crowbar.

For the last few days, I left everyone to decide for themselves and just checked the nest box and remove if they went in there.

I never remove the last day.

I think I'll see where she's at in the morning an go from there.
Thanks y'all!

Just let her be tomorrow. If they hatch she will have them up and around right away.

There always seems to be an early guy. if they're due tomorrow, there's probably a chick out now, and some might now be out until Wednesday. I wouldn't bother her too much--she won't on the chicks, in theory LOL.

4 out of 6 eggs have hatched already!!!
Woohoo!

There you go!

Sandy you know our rules, if there are no pictures, it didn't happen!