I've gone and done it now

[Nicos]

One of mine sat for 3 days without getting off ( to my knowledge)
I was getting really worried- and left food and water- neither touched- so I lifted her out once a day when I was feeding the others some corn and pellets( competition instinct)near the water container ( very close to her eggs)she grabbed some food, and a quick drink and did the most enormous poop ( a good half mug size!!!)
After that I lifted her off a couple of times a day until about the second week of sitting, and she got off when she wanted.

So...yup- I'd lift her off a couple of times a day- and leave food and water for her nearby until you see her doing it on her own.She'll need to leave the nest to poo- (one huge one a day)
Make sure you only leave a very shallow dish of water around day 21- if the chicks hatch in the night, they might drown in even a small amount of water

[RichmondHens]

I would feed her just corn (+ grit) - she's not laying so doesn't need the pellets - and her poo will firm up a bit then too. Corn will also heat her up - she needs all the energy she can get. If you are worried about her not coming off enough, or if she starts soiling the nest, then by all means lift her, but once will be enough, towards the end of the day. Broodies can be off the eggs for up to 30 mins with no problem, especially in this warm weather.

Some of mine that sit away (ie not specifically set in coops by me) have a good old run around when they decide to get off, dust bathe and flap around for about 20 - 30 mins. I love to see them in what I call "full sail" as they run around with their wings out clucking madly, telling the other hens to keep clear.

[frias]

That's just what she does RH and believe me the others do get out of her way! Will only stay off nest for 5 mins at most though. Poo is very runny so thanks for tip about corn. OH put some worms near her today and she wouldn't even get off the nest for them. Had to hand feed her. Hasn't soiled nest so far. Given that we only have 5 eggs I hope at least one hatches for her. OH is worried all might hatch as we can't keep a cockerel and haven't got room for too many hens.

[RichmondHens]

You may be lucky cock-wise (in not having too many). I'm getting more hens now as the season progresses, after my rubbish spring hatching virtually only cocks.

Don't worry about her not eating much. They don't. As long as she has some where she can get it if she wants it that will be fine.

[frias]

Four eggs hatched and the remining one was abandoned and cold so I opened it and it was an unfertalised egg. Out of the four we have 3 boys and 1 girl I think. I have a home for 1 of the boys and will be praying I can get the others homed in time as I can't keep one.
Anyway mum and chicks are all doing well. Not sure if they should be having anything besides chick crumbs but everything I offer mum gets broken up and given to them by her.
I have taken lots of photos but although I can get the memory card into computer and see them don't seem to be able to get them onto photo bucket. Oh to have been born later or at least with brains.

[Nicos]

4 chicks??...that's lovely!

Mine had chick crumb up until about 6 weeks- but to be honest as they were freeranging- all the other chooks tried to tuck in- and as you said, mommy broke up her food for the babies!
(Only the chicks like the flavour of the growers pellets now )

What I was concerned about was that the babies had enough crumb as it contains something to prevent disease at about 24 weeks ( I'm sure someone can remind me of the name of the disease and medication)
What I didn't want was the older girls eating much of it- and the medication getting into the eggs- although I'm not sure how bad that would be???

looking forward to piccies!

[RichmondHens]

Oh well done! Don't abandon all hope for more hens, you may get more than you think. And Welsummers are slow growers, and don't crow too early so you will be able to hang onto them a little longer.

Just feeding chick crumb is fine. They can stay on that for 4 weeks then you can introduce some grower pellets.

I don't know how to get my photos on here either. Had some super ones of my last bantam hatch but need OH to help me (feel a real thicko when it comes to technology!)

[RichmondHens]

Nicos - The medication added to some crumb is an anticoccidiostat, which laying hens shouldn't have access to, because you shouldn't eat the eggs afterwards. I always buy the crumb without the medication in. To be honest, there shouldn't be a problem with coccidiosis if the birds are free ranging - it's more of a problem with heavily populated pens where the ground gets wet and muddy.

[Nicos]

Ah - thanks - I just presumed all crumb has it in!!!...think I'd better check on my bag!

[Polly Fouracre]

4 chicks??...that's lovely!

Mine had chick crumb up until about 6 weeks- but to be honest as they were freeranging- all the other chooks tried to tuck in- and as you said, mommy broke up her food for the babies!
(Only the chicks like the flavour of the growers pellets now )

What I was concerned about was that the babies had enough crumb as it contains something to prevent disease at about 24 weeks ( I'm sure someone can remind me of the name of the disease and medication)
What I didn't want was the older girls eating much of it- and the medication getting into the eggs- although I'm not sure how bad that would be???

looking forward to piccies!

Smallholder do a range of organic chicken food including chick-crumbs. Ask
at your local agricultural merchants, they tend to be a lot cheaper than pet shops.
One small bag(approx. £4) does eight to ten Indian Game chicks for about six weeks.

[frias]

I gave mum (Spotty) a blueberry yesterday and I expected her to gobble it down instead she broke it up for the babies which I was a bit worried about but they are OK today and she is teaching them to scratch about in the run. OH is going to make an outside run later so they can all come out on the lawn. How soon should they mix with the other big girls? They are so tiny.
I was told by the supplier it was OK for mum to have the chick crumbs as she isn't laying but the other hens mustn't eat it because of the medication getting into the eggs. If you've already eaten the eggs Nicos it's too late to worry!
OH is worse than I am with computer so have to wait for son to visit.

[RichmondHens]

Mum should protect them from the other hens but if your main run/pen has an open top then I would not let them in there until the 5 or 6 week mark, then they will be safe from aerial predators. Mine tend to stay in the broody coops (with add on roofed runs after a week to extend their ranging space) until they are about 5 weeks. Then they come out to free range.

Blueberries (and other fruit) won't harm them, just don't feed very much. Their little systems take a while to cope with other things. Mum will indeed break up anything she considers ok for her babies to eat.

[di]

Well Done on the babies!
Watching Mummy Hen look after her brood really takes some beating,the first time Dandelion broke up food for them, brought a few lil tears...when Marigold joined in the floodgates opened!!!

[RichmondHens]

Yes it's lovely isn't it, and almost even better, watching one of the cocks do it for the chicks too (even when he's not their daddy!).

[di]

Would almost excuse us getting 8 eggs for Dandelion to keep warm for three weeks!