A Question about Mamas and Chicks

[sweetshoplady]

I've noticed that my chicks, like other newborns/babies I have known, eat, play a little and then have a nap.

When Mama Hen raises her chicks, when the wee ones need to sleep does the Mama take them to a nest for their naps where she then gets on them to keep them warm? Or do they just lay down, and she gets over top of them? Or does she lay down, and call the wee ones to her for a nap?

 

[silkiechicken]

When she thinks they are cold she just hunkers down where she stands and puffs up. Calls the chicks over and sits for a bit before getting up and pecking at stuff for the babies. This goes on and off in like 5 min increments, with increasing "out" times as the chicks get older. At least it was 5 min increments when my broody had a 3 day old chick when it was drizzing and in the upper 30's and low 40's. I know I sure wouldn't let my day olds out like that, but the little fluff ball out with mamma in the damp weather was having a blast while I was bundled up in like 5 layers of clothes.