Advice for a possibly sick chicken (or is it just a new mum thing?)

[Sonya9]

I only have one nesting box so I just let them figure it out themselves. They have managed alright so far.

Most that use broody hens move the nest once they are sure the hen will stay broody, and then have her sit on her own nest with a small separated area for the first few days after hatch.

Multiple hens using one nest box and trying to hatch out eggs leads to all sorts of mayhem.

 

[Isobelm]

Thanks for that! I'll check her crop in the morning.

The other hen was sitting for a week before she got eggs under her. The unhatched egg has been there 3 and half weeks now (so for and a half all together). But I think I will just go for the day old chick under her! I just hope she comes out!

 

[JanetMarie]

Once a broody hen has baby chicks hatched under her (if she accepts them) she will come off the nest.

 

[Sonya9]

Thanks for that! I'll check her crop in the morning.

The other hen was sitting for a week before she got eggs under her. The unhatched egg has been there 3 and half weeks now (so for and a half all together). But I think I will just go for the day old chick under her! I just hope she comes out!

Put the chicks under her at night so she feels them moving and discovers them in the morning (and obviously remove the egg when you add the chicks).

Oh and if possible get at least 2-3 chicks, they need "siblings" especially when they become juveniles in the flock at the bottom of the pecking order. They bond and hang out with their hatch mates for many months and often those are the only real "friends" they have when their momma cuts them loose.

My broodys raised 3 small clutches this summer and the chicks (all 4-8 months old) all hang out with their original hatchmates even though some hatches were pretty close in age.

 

[Isobelm]

Thanks so much everyone for all your advice!! Here's to hoping it all works out!!