Stuart E

Stuart, You can only really move eggs to another hen if that hen already has at least one egg of her own. Thats the way they work and the way she will accept the eggs. If the hen hasnt any eggs yet she may not accept them. It would be rare for a hen to take on eggs in this way. okay then. I will just continue looking after mum and monitoring the chicks when they arrive. Thank-you Kaz.

Thank-you Phoebe Thank-you NerwenI do have another hen who seems to be having difficulty producing eggs in another breeding box. I'll move maybe 2 of the 5 eggs across to her. I will also set up the widowed hen's food right at the nest entrance. Thank-you Kaz.I will keep you posted on developments.Stuart

This morning I discovered the parent cock bird dead in the nest with the mother and the 5 soon to hatch eggs. He had shown no indicators of illness, and the hen seems fine. Is there a strategy to assist the mum and the babies? The birds are part of our family, so if anyone has any advice, I would really appreciate it. Stuart