About to try to let broody raise day-olds but have logistical question

[bawkbawkbawk]

We just put them under her. DH is very stressed out that the little ones will suffocate underneath her - that won't happen, will it?

 

[hokankai]

No, she should keep her weight on her legs instead of actually sitting on them. Did she react when she heard them peeping? When I took mine in she immediately started clucking when she heard the peeping.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Yes, she's been clucking quite a bit, in that low voice that she has adopted since she went broody.

They've been under her for three hours now. The little D'uccle scooted out for a minute and she pecked at it a bit, but not aggressively - I think she was just trying to tell her to get back underneath where it's warm. Mama is shifting quite a bit - you can tell she feels the squirming beneath her.

What happens next?

Should I get them out from under her so they can eat and drink?

How long until we know that the coast is clear?

 

[Wisher1000]

The chicks will try to come out when they get too warm, try to keep the temp cooler than 85 if possible. Don't mess with them (donn't take them to the food/water) unless the hen starts hurting them. Mine did peck and growl and cluck at the babies at first, but once she was used to them she stopped and only clucked! She will take them to the water and food when she goes. Just watch from a distance so she can settle into being a mother.

DITTO on the NICE coop!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Thanks Wisher - but I've read that for the first day and a half she'll think they just hatched (they're two or three days old) and not know to show them food and water. Can they survive that long?

Lots of coop pix on my blog, btw: http://polloplayer.wordpress.org, click the chicken coop tag in the cloud...

I suspect I'm making this more stressful than it needs to be...so far they're all still underneath her, so that's good!

 

[hokankai]

How old are the babies? Newborns can go 3 days on their yolksac. Let her do the rest. The more you reach in there, the less she's going to have a chance to bond. Bonding takes a little while, which is why she pecked at it. They'll bond through clucks and peeps, and the babies will find the food and water if they need it. Just keep it all close to her nest so the babies don't have to go very far and so that mama can eat and drink while she's on the nest.

 

[Wisher1000]

Put some chick starter in a low dish (paper plate or jarlid) close by they'll get it if mom doesn't move! Make sure they have easy access and they'll watch mom. Relax, and just enjoy them!

 

[gryeyes]

I have a broody hen who hatched chicks in the "upstairs" coop section of a small kit coop, in the main section not the pop-out next box. I have placed a waterer and a dish of chick starter in the nest box (easy to lift the lid and refresh feed and water and check on mom and chicks) so they don't have to go down the ramp and then out into the yard to find food right now.

Momma went directly to the food and water and showed the chicks how to eat and drink, with a whole lot of clucking.

Yours will be fine. Honest.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

IT WORKED!!!! SHE LIKES THEM!!!!

Thank you so much everyone for your help and encouragement!!!!

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
Oh my, I am so happy for you and your hen! It works more often than not, but alway a chance. Yippppppeeeeee

~Julie