Hi there...
Anyone who is willing to write a note to help me is greatly appreciated...
I have had chickens for a couple years now... two Rhode Island Red hens and two Silkies.. (one rooster one hen) Natashia (Silkie hen) is setting on eight eggs... I have several problems!
1. The Reds keep laying eggs under her and she kicks one of her eggs out.. a few times it took me a while to get in there to take out the Red egg to put the Silkie egg back under her... will the eggs that got pushed out for a while still hatch?
2. I know they are due to hatch soon.. she has been setting a few weeks... the thing I don't know is if I need to seperate the chicks and momma from the daddy and the other two hens... I don't want anyone getting eaten.
3. Do I have to feed the babies when they hatch... or is momma going to take care of them? Will she teach them to eat and drink.. or do I have to interviene?
Please.. if you know something.. and have a few minutes to e-mail me... I am begging! I would hate for any of the babies to be hurt or die due to my own ignornace, I know I should have looked all this stuff up before I let her set... but I thought for sure I could find what I needed to know while the babies were *cooking* under momma... now the time is drawing near.. and I haven't found any information that will help us!
My e-mail address is <lia_li@hotmail.com> (minus these things<>)
Thank you so much in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Lia Mari