Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

appps said:

Need some advice guys - is this normal? Little peep came out from mum when I opened their box up this morning. It is very quiet but tried having a little wander and penny just kept pecking it and trying to sit on it till after five minutes it finally got it in a spot she could hunker down on top of it again.

I did pick it up at one point when she was getting quite pecky because it was in a corner and she couldn't position herself on top, and took the opportunity to pop it's beak in the waterer a couple of times. It didn't seem to want to drink though.

She hopped out long enough to poop them jumped right back in. I've given her a little container of food and she is eating and making little chatty noises but the chick is yet again buried up underneath her so it's not having any.

At what point after all the chicks have hatched does the hen leave the nest and the chicks just follow along behind her? How long will she keep it in the nest without letting it wander?

Is this all normal behaviour or being a new mum do you think she hasn't worked out how to treat it as a chick instead of an egg? I'm a little concerned about leaving her alone while I go to work to be honest as she isn't real gentle.

Click to expand...

Fancychooklady said:

Sorry had to drop the girls at the bus stop. She's just a protective mum. If you handle the chick , make sure you put it under her rather than in front of her when you return it to her. Water and feed nearby will suffice and she will call the chick to the bowl.

Click to expand...

appps said:

So do you think it's worth taking it inside and showing it how to eat drink then? I'm just a bit worried that it's now on day 3 with no food and she doesn't seem to be trying to teach it to drink etc. mind you she chirps when she eats but as soon as it pops it's head out she pushes it back under, so think she is half teaching lol

Click to expand...

appps said:

Need some advice guys - is this normal? Little peep came out from mum when I opened their box up this morning. It is very quiet but tried having a little wander and penny just kept pecking it and trying to sit on it till after five minutes it finally got it in a spot she could hunker down on top of it again.

I did pick it up at one point when she was getting quite pecky because it was in a corner and she couldn't position herself on top, and took the opportunity to pop it's beak in the waterer a couple of times. It didn't seem to want to drink though.

She hopped out long enough to poop them jumped right back in. I've given her a little container of food and she is eating and making little chatty noises but the chick is yet again buried up underneath her so it's not having any.

At what point after all the chicks have hatched does the hen leave the nest and the chicks just follow along behind her? How long will she keep it in the nest without letting it wander?

Is this all normal behaviour or being a new mum do you think she hasn't worked out how to treat it as a chick instead of an egg? I'm a little concerned about leaving her alone while I go to work to be honest as she isn't real gentle.

Click to expand...

satay said:

Sounds normal to me appps. They start to wander at a young age normally she will call and they will come back. I just leave the teaching of the feeding and water to the mum . Never had one not survive this way.

Click to expand...

satay said:

My slow hatch has finally finished. All 23 eggs hatched . 5 black marans and 18 fw.

Click to expand...