I've always heard rumors about hens that go broody will adopt baby chicks if you switch the babies for the eggs/rocks/golf balls/etc at night... They "wake up" with a nest full of miraculous babies!!
We had THREE hens go broody, so after a week or so when we were SURE the mamas were sticking, we decided to buy 24 sex-link chicks for guaranteed females to give eight each to the hens. We snuck the babies under and switched them for the ceramic eggs they had. With a little fussing and clucking, the mamas settled right in on their new charges, and we left them to bond overnight.
The next morning, I go out to feed everyone, and two out of three of the broodies ABANDONED their chicks!! They jumped off the nest, left their chicks in the dust, and joined the rest of the flock for breakfast........ and never returned to the nest. In an act of desperation (since it was still a little chilly, and the chicks started alarm-peeping), I shoved ALL. TWENTY. FOUR. under the remaining broody who took them... albeit slightly confused and bewildered.
So far, the chicks have stayed right with her, and we moved her to her own little broody pad where she can concentrate on raising her large brood.
To date, the other two broodies never went back to sitting on their nests. Having the chicks overnight somehow BROKE them of being broody, which was a real shock and disappointment.
FORTUNATELY, Sassy, the last broody and one of our largest hens, has taken over and is doing a GREAT job keeping all her babies nice and toasty.
Goes to show you that we plan, and God laughs, but He also provides abundantly!
Here she is with her two dozen babies... I'm certainly grateful for Sassy's work ethic and her large abundance!
This MUST be some kind of record.
Felt like sharing. Have a great day, y'all!
MrsB
We had THREE hens go broody, so after a week or so when we were SURE the mamas were sticking, we decided to buy 24 sex-link chicks for guaranteed females to give eight each to the hens. We snuck the babies under and switched them for the ceramic eggs they had. With a little fussing and clucking, the mamas settled right in on their new charges, and we left them to bond overnight.
The next morning, I go out to feed everyone, and two out of three of the broodies ABANDONED their chicks!! They jumped off the nest, left their chicks in the dust, and joined the rest of the flock for breakfast........ and never returned to the nest. In an act of desperation (since it was still a little chilly, and the chicks started alarm-peeping), I shoved ALL. TWENTY. FOUR. under the remaining broody who took them... albeit slightly confused and bewildered.
So far, the chicks have stayed right with her, and we moved her to her own little broody pad where she can concentrate on raising her large brood.
To date, the other two broodies never went back to sitting on their nests. Having the chicks overnight somehow BROKE them of being broody, which was a real shock and disappointment.
FORTUNATELY, Sassy, the last broody and one of our largest hens, has taken over and is doing a GREAT job keeping all her babies nice and toasty.
Goes to show you that we plan, and God laughs, but He also provides abundantly!
Here she is with her two dozen babies... I'm certainly grateful for Sassy's work ethic and her large abundance!
Felt like sharing. Have a great day, y'all!
MrsB
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