a few ?'s about broody hatching

[cms1113]

I had a hen go broody and hatch out 3 chicks, will she regurgitate food for them or do I need to put chick crumble in for them? How do I make sure they eat that and not the laying crumble.

Should I seperate the chicks even if the rooster or hen aren't showing any aggression?

Was it ok for me to stick some eggs under my hen towards the end of the other eggs incubation period?

 

[steve2495]

chickens do not regurgatate food just put chick food in their and theyll b find no worries

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
The hens don't feed chicks like other birds do. They will pick up food and drop it for them, much like roosters do for their hens.

Should I seperate the chicks even if the rooster or hen aren't showing any aggression?

The advantage of seperating them from the others, is you will be able to feed the chick starter food, without everybody else eating it all up

Was it ok for me to stick some eggs under my hen towards the end of the other eggs incubation period?

I'm not sure what you mean? Were the eggs you put under her scheduled to hatch about the same time as the ones she was sitting on? If not, she will probably abandon them whithin two or three days after the chicks hatch, to take care of her new babys. If she doesn't, you'll have to take matters into your own hands. Incubate the remaining eggs, or brood the new chicks.​

 

[cms1113]

Quote:
The hens don't feed chicks like other birds do. They will pick up food and drop it for them, much like roosters do for their hens.

Should I seperate the chicks even if the rooster or hen aren't showing any aggression?

The advantage of seperating them from the others, is you will be able to feed the chick starter food, without everybody else eating it all up

Was it ok for me to stick some eggs under my hen towards the end of the other eggs incubation period?

I'm not sure what you mean? Were the eggs you put under her scheduled to hatch about the same time as the ones she was sitting on? If not, she will probably abandon them whithin two or three days after the chicks hatch, to take care of her new babys. If she doesn't, you'll have to take matters into your own hands. Incubate the remaining eggs, or brood the new chicks.​

You understood my last question. So I guess I'll need to get my incubator running!

Thanks for both your help.​

 

[cms1113]

I forgot to ask, if all is well with the chicks, hen and rooster is there really anything more I need to do?

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
The only thing I would be on the watch for is an overly agressive hen (not mom) attacking the new chicks. Mom will do her best to defend them, but sometimes the attacker gets in a lucky shot in all the commotion and you'll lose a chick. Out of about 50 hens, we only have one that's a problem in this way.