Recent content by rebecuna

Thought I would update my own post... my broody made this decision for me. She had absolutely no interest in going back in that shed. She spent the entire day outside in the yard with the babies, and in late afternoon brought them over to where the other hens were dust bathing and joined the...

My broody who hatched 3 chicks last week is out in the yard with them all day today-- they walk around and pick at the dirt and grass, and then she sits down and they scoot under her, then in 10 minutes they get up and do it again in a different spot. The rest of my flock is in the yard and...

The shed is closed up, but I put a makshift ramp from the door to the grass outside so when mama goes out (when I prop open the door), theoretically they can follow her... they just don't really try, just scream for her. Does she need to teach them to follow? Maybe she's too desperate herself to...

My 3 chicks are now 6 and 3 days old, but when mama goes out of the shed where she's brooding them she's frantic and desperate to get exercise, but the chicks don't follow her, they just start screeching loudly. It's SO loud! Mama comes rushing back after only about 30 seconds-- just grabs a...

Chick seems recovered! Both eyes are open, and today it was eating and drinking and quite active. Thanks for the support!

I'm pretty sure this is the chick that got stepped on by the mama during hatching. One eye has a hard time opening, and mostly stays closed. It also doesn't walk very well, gimpy and crooked (but this could just be because it can only see out of one eye). It seems to have a hard time getting...

Just checked on her and it looks like the chick is almost all the way out! Not much shell left, still some membrane. The mama is pecking at the shell... that's okay, right?

Reposting the above for reference. There are 2 more eggs hatching today! One has a decent sized round hole and I can see its little beak and eyes peeking through. The other had a lot of shell stripped off but membrane still intact (? how can that be?) and the egg is jumping and peeping! The mama...

Should I help it or leave it? I'm afraid she messed up the hatching process. I saw her step on the egg-- twice in 30 seconds!!-- with all her weight while she was trying to get out of her nest (for the first time in 5 days-- she was a bit unsteady) The egg is still jumping and wiggling, but...

So, no action since my one chick hatched Monday (of 8). Mama still hasn't gotten off the nest... do I need to help her with this? Should I give her one more day? I'm afraid the one chick isn't going to get the nutrition it needs... my kids dumped some feed in her nest the other day, so the chick...

Mine was in a covered litter box. I removed the lid just yesterday, when the first chick was 1 day old so we could see better and the chicks could get out more easily.

Squee!! Here's a sweet video, too...

Yes!

I just heard peeping!!! No sign of chick(s) yet, but broody is no longer growling at me when I get close to her. ?? Question: I'm not sure the chicks will be able to get out of the nest (litter box). I put a brick on both sides of the doorway, but it's still 4-5 inches from the top of the...

I read here that the problem is usually the chicks not responding to her once they're more than a few days old. I would think your 5 week olds would not accept her as the mama hen. But I don't know why it would be a problem for her to hang around them, as long as she's not hurting them. I just...