All advice appreciated

[Couchie]

Today we bought two 1 day old Pekin Bantams to put under a longtime broody Bantam. She was in the 'egg room' where all the others sleep. Since they were out in the yard and we can close that yard off we thought we will put them under her a few hours before dark (Australian Summer here now). We swapped two eggs that were under her for the two chicks and they sat under her happily together for a couple of hours.

Then, we were concerned that when the others returned at night they might attack the chicks so we decided to move them to a triangular-prism cage where they could live in peace from the others. Unfortunately when we did that the broody started pecking the chicks. So we tried to move them back to the old 'egg room' but the hen pecked them there too.

We took the two chicks inside in a box, put a tea-towel in there which they have gone under. It is 26 degrees Celsius (78.8F) at the moment so I'll put a light on them at night. We are sad that they wont bond with an older hen and have them looked after until they are older. We're thinking of trying again with broody hen tomorrow. We have moved the broody one to the triangle for the night.

If anyone has any thoughts as to what we should or could do I would love to read them.

Thanks BYC!!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have no experience with this situation. Chickens normally bond with their chicks from the hatching process and within the first 24 hours. I have heard horror stories of people leaving chicks they bought and had placed them under a broody hen.
I choose the either let the hen hatch eggs or keep the chicks in a brooder until they have all their feathers and no fluff.

 

[theoldchick]

Sounds like the broody will not accept them so you will have to raise them separate until they are big enough to fend for themselves. Make sure they have access proper chick food, water, heat and read to them all you want.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Did you attempt to sneak the chicks under her, from behind at night time, while she should be sleeping?

 

[Couchie]

thanks to all for your thoughts. To MysteryChicken: we wanted to but we would have to put them in the same house as all the other chickens so we thought we'd give them a few hours to bond before moving them into their own enclosure. They bonded for a bit and broody hen seemed to be happy to have them running around under her feathers etc - until we moved them. It is night time now. Do you think we should try again? There isnt any eggs under her and she will wake from the noise of the metal door we have on that smaller enclosure.

To theoldchook: we have a light on them, chick feed, water, and a small towel they can run under. It is the hottest day in about 12 months here so it is'nt cold. I've put the light one end of the box and the towel the other so they can move away from it if they wish.

Poor things - no mother.

 

[black_cat]

thanks to all for your thoughts. To MysteryChicken: we wanted to but we would have to put them in the same house as all the other chickens so we thought we'd give them a few hours to bond before moving them into their own enclosure. They bonded for a bit and broody hen seemed to be happy to have them running around under her feathers etc - until we moved them. It is night time now. Do you think we should try again? There isnt any eggs under her and she will wake from the noise of the metal door we have on that smaller enclosure.

To theoldchook: we have a light on them, chick feed, water, and a small towel they can run under. It is the hottest day in about 12 months here so it is'nt cold. I've put the light one end of the box and the towel the other so they can move away from it if they wish.

Poor things - no mother.

Is the light a heat lamp?

 

[MysteryChicken]

thanks to all for your thoughts. To MysteryChicken: we wanted to but we would have to put them in the same house as all the other chickens so we thought we'd give them a few hours to bond before moving them into their own enclosure. They bonded for a bit and broody hen seemed to be happy to have them running around under her feathers etc - until we moved them. It is night time now. Do you think we should try again? There isnt any eggs under her and she will wake from the noise of the metal door we have on that smaller enclosure.

To theoldchook: we have a light on them, chick feed, water, and a small towel they can run under. It is the hottest day in about 12 months here so it is'nt cold. I've put the light one end of the box and the towel the other so they can move away from it if they wish.

Poor things - no mother.

You can give it another attempt. If it fails, then they'll just have to be brooder raised.

 

[Couchie]

It is just a normal globe (Not LED) but it is very very warm here. Someone I know said they raised chicks from an incubator last summer without a light at all. The light seemed to be bothering them so I turned it off and they have snuggled under the blanket and a soft toy.

I put my hand down with my fingers spread and they ran under that poking their heads out between the fingers as if they were feathers. They were very relaxed but I can't stay there all night as much as my family encouraged me to do so. They seem quiet and relaxed so I'll check them in an hour.

 

[Couchie]

 

[Couchie]

well they made it through the night. I sat on the lawn with them and after they had a little walk around they fell asleep under my crossed legs.