I want to foster a chick but the only hen i trust still has 4 days until her own eggs are due to hatch. Will she be able to produce crop milk before her eggs are due?? will the presence of the chick stimulate her to produce the milk or will i have to wait until her own eggs are due???

A Couple of questions?

Can you wait till her eggs are about to hatch or is this urgent?

How old is the chick you want to foster?

 

I would wait but if there is a reason that it has to be fostered, you'll have to take your chances.

To make it easier I'b give the chick some warm milk. The glucose in the milk will give it some energy.

How old is the chick and when is the 1st egg ready to hatch.

I would wait she may likely kill it if her eggs aren't ready to hatch

The chick hatched yesterday and i have been feeding it every few hours (day and night zzzzzzz)

 

The chick's parents had killed its three siblings and i have stopped them from breeding by putting that hens remaining fertile eggs under the foster hen (who's eggs are all clear) . One of the eggs hatched yesterday and she has been fine with the chick so far, she just hasn't fed it yet. There is still another egg due tomorrow and i really dont want to have to be feeding 2 tiny hatch lings if i don't have to. I don't want them to miss the vital crop milk.

 

The foster hens eggs (if they were fertile) would be due to hatch in about 4 - 5 days

Edited April 14, 200916 yr by **Liv**

In that case I would try it seems it is so young she might think it's hers but I would put one of those other eggs that are ready to hatch under her to bring her on.

In that case I would try it seems it is so young she might think it's hers but I would put one of those other eggs that are ready to hatch under her to bring her on.

 

Thanks Splat. the other egg is under her. this chick hatched under her so :hi: she will get her milk soon

I have done this many times and it has not failed yet.

The chick has been fed by the foster mum!!! :yes:

 

It took 24 hours for her to get her milk which is pretty common so i think its all good now :fingerscrossed:

Pleased to hear that all is going well.

 

Is this breeding going on in the new breeding room?

Well done Liv I would have fostered it also. I've done it a few times and the mothers never neglected the babies. YET.

I never knew that about the crop milk. Does the milk in the mother not develop until 18 days after her first egg is laid or how does it work? I always thought they can just produce the milk whenever they want.

That's great Liv really pleased it worked out for you and I have done this many times and always a good thing :fingerscrossed:

Pleased to hear that all is going well.

 

Is this breeding going on in the new breeding room?

 

Sure is!! I have 10/10 pairs actively nesting with eggs. They seem to be loving it :fingerscrossed:

 

I never knew that about the crop milk. Does the milk in the mother not develop until 18 days after her first egg is laid or how does it work? I always thought they can just produce the milk whenever they want.

I am not sure myself, which is why i asked this question. However, it seems that the crop milk is triggered by the chick's peeping stimulating the hen's hormones.

Edited April 15, 200916 yr by **Liv**