So, I just put 5 little chicks under my broody hen and she loves them. We put her in a mini-coop late last night and moved the chicks an hour later to make sure she had settled in. That part went great. The chicks all hurried under her and she never even woke up. This morning, they were all still under her and she seemed pretty happy. There is chick food and water in the mini-coop and the little chicks are eating and drinking like crazy - not so the Mamma. She hasn't budged. And when the little girls go out to eat, she is quite upset with them and makes little noises until they go back under her. This is the first time we've done this, so I'm assuming this is normal. What we are worried about is whether she is going to get up and eat and drink. She hasn't moved all day as far as we can tell. It's not that warm out - 50 degrees or so, so the chicks will be cold for a while if she does this - maybe she doesn't want to risk it? The chicks are 2 to 3 days old, maybe one is 4 days. They told us they were all 3 days old, but there is a great variety in size and feathering so it seems that some are older.
Should we pick her up and try to get her to eat? Or is this normal and she'll do what she needs to do.
btw, we are cuted out. Just what we needed for stay-at-home.
Should we pick her up and try to get her to eat? Or is this normal and she'll do what she needs to do.
btw, we are cuted out. Just what we needed for stay-at-home.