Lonely bantam

TheSarahdactyl

In the Brooder
Feb 19, 2017
4
9
17
Hello everyone. This is my first time posting, so I apologize if I'm not putting this in the right forum.
Recently my old flock was killed by raccoons, so I got some new chicks to start over. A friend of mine had a broody bantam she gave me since her flock was beating it up and we thought the broody hen could benefit from new chicks to care for. Wrong. She started pecking them relentlessly to the point of making one of them crippled. So, I separated her into a separate coop. Now I'm worried about her being alone. I don't know if I should get some fertile eggs for her to lay on, or try again with the chicks, or get another bantam hen. I just feel so bad for her. Any solutions or advice?
Thanks in advance.
 
Hello everyone. This is my first time posting, so I apologize if I'm not putting this in the right forum.
Recently my old flock was killed by raccoons, so I got some new chicks to start over. A friend of mine had a broody bantam she gave me since her flock was beating it up and we thought the broody hen could benefit from new chicks to care for. Wrong. She started pecking them relentlessly to the point of making one of them crippled. So, I separated her into a separate coop. Now I'm worried about her being alone. I don't know if I should get some fertile eggs for her to lay on, or try again with the chicks, or get another bantam hen. I just feel so bad for her. Any solutions or advice?
Thanks in advance.
Welcome to BYC!

Well, was the bantam broody still broody once you brought her to your place?
Did you wait until she had been setting at y our place for a week or so before giving her the day old chicks?
That would be the best scenario....and maybe why it didn't work.
Best of the broody has been setting for quite awhile before 'fooling her' with chicks.
Chicks must be just a day or maybe two old or neither they nor mama are likely to bond.

But now I'd keep the bantam and the chicks penned next to each other, but separated by wire, to let them all get used to each other before physical introductions are made.

P.S. Love your screen name.
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom