HI everyone
On July 10 I put 8 chicks under a broody and thankfully she accepted all of them. My only other hen, Lizzie, has been kept separate from mom and chicks for all this time, but can see them through the wire separating the 2 parts of the coop.
I have done a few quick introductions, allowing Lizzie to see the chicks once before they went under the broody, and a few more times allowing her to wander in with mom and chicks. In every case she does not seem at all interested in the chicks. I suspect she just wants to be part of the flock and not the sole chicken free ranging or on her side of the coop.
The "mother" hen is protective, but it seems like more of a show because she will put her head down to eat, then "attack" when the chicks get too close to LIzzie, and then eat again. I would think if she were really worried about the chicks she would not take time out to eat.....just guessing this. And it is the chicks approaching Lizzie-not the other way around. Lizzie always leaves that side of the coop bewildered but not panicked or stressed.
Does it seem like time to put Lizzie in with the others? I think she is getting a little wacky being by herself all the time.
Also how can I get all of them to roost on the new poles I installed? In the past Lizzie and the (almost) mom "roosted" on a shelf and pooped all over it. They will not roost on the wooden ladder I got for them, and would not move from the shelf. I would like them to change where they roost. If mom and chicks can be made to roost in the new place will Lizzie follow? Or continue in her previous roost on the shelf?
Sorry so long!
On July 10 I put 8 chicks under a broody and thankfully she accepted all of them. My only other hen, Lizzie, has been kept separate from mom and chicks for all this time, but can see them through the wire separating the 2 parts of the coop.
I have done a few quick introductions, allowing Lizzie to see the chicks once before they went under the broody, and a few more times allowing her to wander in with mom and chicks. In every case she does not seem at all interested in the chicks. I suspect she just wants to be part of the flock and not the sole chicken free ranging or on her side of the coop.
The "mother" hen is protective, but it seems like more of a show because she will put her head down to eat, then "attack" when the chicks get too close to LIzzie, and then eat again. I would think if she were really worried about the chicks she would not take time out to eat.....just guessing this. And it is the chicks approaching Lizzie-not the other way around. Lizzie always leaves that side of the coop bewildered but not panicked or stressed.
Does it seem like time to put Lizzie in with the others? I think she is getting a little wacky being by herself all the time.
Also how can I get all of them to roost on the new poles I installed? In the past Lizzie and the (almost) mom "roosted" on a shelf and pooped all over it. They will not roost on the wooden ladder I got for them, and would not move from the shelf. I would like them to change where they roost. If mom and chicks can be made to roost in the new place will Lizzie follow? Or continue in her previous roost on the shelf?
Sorry so long!
