We have our first hatchlings - dumb newbie question

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NewbyChicknGirl

NewbyChicknGirl

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 15, 2013
32
1
41
Fort Worth
My Coop
My Coop
One of our hens tucked herself away about 3 weeks ago in one of our horse stalls. She hatched 2 eggs finally today. These are our first hatchling chicks. I read through 'storey's guide to raising chickens' but it mainly talks about incubators so I have a dumb question. We've always bought our chicks around 2 or 3 days old at the local feed store so we are ignorant on this. We know tomorrow we are going to put the chicks in the same cage we always use with a heat lamp, water and starter feed like we have the last 2 springs with our store bought chicks. This has worked well. But do we keep momma with them? Or do we separate mom from the 2 chicks?

She abandoned 7 eggs. And sits on the 2 hatchlings in the opposite corner of the abandoned 7 eggs. Does that mean the other 7 eggs won't hatch and we should discard them?

Thank you very much!!
 
We candled the eggs. I had to youtube videos on how to candle eggs. We don't have an incubator or anything like that. We aren't set up at all for this. The remaining eggs had a bloodline but no movement. Our flashlight is tiny but it seemed the dark space below the bloodline was solid dark, no veins or spider web like visual at all. So they are not good according to what we watched on youtube. We left them there are decoys in case a snake comes around it can have those and leave momma and her babies alone. (We'll throw them away after a few days.)

Tomorrow we'll put water and starter feed in there but they will be big enough to wander outside the horse stall and that concerns me. We have goats and a pyrenees dog (their protector).He's a gentle giant but step or lay on them not realizing he is hurting them.

That's why we thought putting them in a cage might be a good idea.
 
I'd suggest that if you remove the chicks from the momma, you will cause stress to both hen and chicks. If you leave momma to do her thing, she will make the right decisions for her chicks. If she decides going back to the coop is a good idea (or whatever), then let her.

Your dog may be a different issue, but if your momma is not scared of him, she's likely to warn the dog with a peck or two, if he gets too close to her chicks. Guess that part boils down to how well you trust your dog with your chickens.

CT
 
The chicks have momma, they don't need a heat lamp. Lucky for them, she's always the perfect temperature
smile.png


I would try to confine your hen and her babies to a safe location for a week or so, then let her do her thing. This does depend on your predator load, but with a lgd I'm guessing your place should be pretty safe.
 
Thank you all so much. My plan after reading this is to affix chicken wire to the stable door to keep mom and chicks inside the stall. I will setup their water and starter feed today. I want nature to do its thing.

My husband was wondering if other hens will get jealous and start hatching too rather than the usual lay and wander off. Anyone know the possibility of this?
 
You are welcome. I've had other pullets hang out with mum and chicks and kinda become an aunt, but generally, my flock stays well away from a momma with chicks (if they value their feathers!).

CT
 
Broodiness is sometimes contagious but really it has to do with the chickens hormone levels as to when and if they get broody. Also depends on the breed as some are known for their broodiness while others aren't.
Enjoy watching momma and her chicks!!!
CTken is correct most of the time momma chicken is not be messed with when it comes to her babies with the flock. The sounds that come out of them are something out of a scary movie lol.
 
I'm delighted to report I don't know squat about candling eggs as evidenced by the fact momma is sitting on them this morning. Apparently we will have more chicks soon. One adorable fuzzball poked her head out and watched me set up water and starter feed before momma corralled her back under her bottom side.
 

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