1st Time Hatching - Small Broody Hen - Counting Begins When?

[teasunn]

so cute ! I've had babies hatched from my hens 3 times ! also my duck has had babies 6 times. it's so cute I'm so happy for you

 

[Enchanted1s]

@aart that tag was my bad - sorry about that. I thought it was your post, and had tagged you, then looked back to see it was Bobbi-J so I changed it...

@bobbi-j - I have Tootie and chicks in the new structure - secured in an area under the coop. The coop is three feet off the ground. The babies (16 weeks) currently sleep in this coop. They have a ramp and a large sliding door at the moment. This new structure IS secure. Tootie and chicks could easily have this run to them selves. I am in the process of connecting the old coop/run to the new structure. The old structure is not AS secure - but I am working on it. I don't think there is any way the chicks could get into the new coop. I was thinking of putting a bigger cage under the coop for Tootie and chicks? I have a pop door that goes from the new building to the old run. If I leave that open, the older birds could come and go as they please, but the chicks could not. Right now, I have Tootie & chicks trapped under the coop where none of the others can get to them - but can see them.

 

[bobbi-j]

@aart that tag was my bad - sorry about that. I thought it was your post, and had tagged you, then looked back to see it was Bobbi-J so I changed it...

@bobbi-j - I have Tootie and chicks in the new structure - secured in an area under the coop. The coop is three feet off the ground. The babies (16 weeks) currently sleep in this coop. They have a ramp and a large sliding door at the moment. This new structure IS secure. Tootie and chicks could easily have this run to them selves. I am in the process of connecting the old coop/run to the new structure. The old structure is not AS secure - but I am working on it. I don't think there is any way the chicks could get into the new coop. I was thinking of putting a bigger cage under the coop for Tootie and chicks? I have a pop door that goes from the new building to the old run. If I leave that open, the older birds could come and go as they please, but the chicks could not. Right now, I have Tootie & chicks trapped under the coop where none of the others can get to them - but can see them.
View attachment 1297666

So is it the new structure that's in the picture? Is that a pop door by the walk-in door by the ladder? A little ramp or something could let them get in. I actually have rocks piled in front of one of my pop doors that the chicks hop up from one to the other to get in.

 

[Enchanted1s]

The pop door is closed in the picture. It is right beside (same level as) the nesting box in the middle (end wall of new building). To get into the coop, of the new building, there is another ramp that requires yet another leap. Still under construction... There will be a Pop door on the front coop of the new structure, with a front deck and ramp - but for now, they have to go inside and in the back coop. I made a removable wall so the coop can be separated into two - or not. Let me see if I have a picture of their ramp to coop...

Nestbox view with Pop door open. The stump is for them to jump in or out.

Ramp to back coop.

This kind of shows the double coop with the dividing wall partly open.


The small door under the coop - on the front of the building - is where I had Tootie and her nest. When it is time - we can just open this door for the chicks to come and go. You can sort of see this door in these pics.

 

[Enchanted1s]

I put everyones favorite nest box back on the far north wall! Hopefully that will make everyone else happy tomorrow. I rearranged Tootie & Chicks area, gave them a new cage to sleep in and lots of room to run, play and learn. I removed the screen wall keeping them separated. All of the bigger birds can come and go as they please through the pop door. Tootie didn't seem to mind when the older babies came and ate the chicks food. When it is time to let the babies out, we can simply open either door, BUT there is no fence that will keep them in once they leave the coop/run. I still have part of the fence down for construction. The older ones never leave the property anyway.

I had fixed up that dog cage for the older babies when I was wanting them out of the house, but ended up not using it. It is a dog cage, with a cloth dog house inside. three sides are further insulated with cardboard and roofing tin. Then, there is about 5 inches of pine shavings in the bottom. When I locked everyone in, Tootie was puffed up in the back with the babies. It has been a tough day for all with 50+ mph winds all day!

 

[Enchanted1s]

They are cute - from what I can tell. Tootie has turned into some sort of demon chicken! If I get anywhere near her, the cage, food, water or definitely the babies she comes after me and FAST!

QUESTION - when should I give them away? causing the least amount of stress for Tootie? Clearly she is getting more attached to them by the day. We were thinking of letting her keep them for two weeks, but now I am not so sure??

 

[bobbi-j]

If you don’t want to cause to much stress on the hen, I’d wait until she wears them. Just my opinion. If you do it sooner, she’ll eventually get over it, as will the chicks. Sounds like she’s being a good, protective mama.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Until she weans them - any guess how long that would be? She is unquestionably VERY protective of those babies!

 

[bobbi-j]

Mine take anywhere from 4-6 weeks.