Are new chicks safe with broody hen? How to tell?

[Acre4Me]

Our Black Australorp (30 weeks old) went broody a few weeks ago. We decided to get her some chicks to raise. We moved her to a large brooder (yesterday afternoon) and created a nest area similar to the nest box where she has spent the last couple of weeks growling and staying. Last night, in the dark, we placed the 7 chicks, but left the two fake eggs underneath her. This morning as it was getting light, we checked on her. The chicks were pretty silent with a few peeps and seemed to be under and behind her. We checked on her 1.5 hours later and it was obvious she had gotten up and deposited a large poop at the other end of the brooder, but was back in her nest and all the chicks were cheeping around the food and water (and eating and drinking)....after several minutes, they made their way over to her and started pushing their way under her wings, etc. She (the mother hen) isn't making any real noises, other than a low growl at us if we get too close. She seems to be allowing the chicks to be in her nest, although does not seem to be interacting with them yet.

So, is it safe to leave them with her?

Is she still focused on sitting on that lone fake egg under her (we took one fake egg away)?

In the first picture, you can see she is quite fluffed up, and she has chicks under her front wing, and you can see part of a chick behind her in the back. This was taken at 9am, along with the second picture with the chicks by the feeder.

In the last (bottom) picture, it is 7:30am and she has not left the nest, but has the chicks under and around her.

 

[SueT]

I'd say good so far. If the chicks had hatched from her eggs, they would be staying under her the first day, so that's what she would be expecting. You'll just have to keep checking all day long...
good luck!

 

[rita2paul]

yes this is normal, mine sit for a day with the chicks under her.

 

[Acre4Me]

I'd say good so far. If the chicks had hatched from her eggs, they would be staying under her the first day, so that's what she would be expecting. You'll just have to keep checking all day long...
good luck!

yes this is normal, mine sit for a day with the chicks under her.

Thanks! So, I should monitor for the day, but if all is well today, we should be confident that she has accepted them?

 

[SueT]

Thanks! So, I should monitor for the day, but if all is well today, we should be confident that she has accepted them?

Oh gosh, I don't know....I had one that tried to kill introduced chicks right away. I think you'll know when it's sure, just play it by ear.

 

[Chickassan]

If she didn't peck them in the head when she first noticed them she's probably not going to. They are all basically the same color so no just pecking the oddball should happen. I think she's doing very good.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Acre4Me,

Every broody hen has different mothering instincts.

A first time mother, is unpredictable. I would give her a chance to fulfill her motherly duties. If she fails, make sure you have a brooder ready to accommodate the chicks.

Two weeks ago, I did just that. I had two broody hens sitting on eggs. I was hoping my large Buff Orpington was ready to mother, up to 12 chicks. My other broody, a little game hen, left her eggs for over an hour, so I took the eggs and put them in the incubator. On day 18, I moved both hens and their eggs (fake eggs for the game hen), to a nursery pen/coop.

Unfortunately the Buff Orpington, decided she didn't like it there. And she abandoned the eggs, entirely. So, into the incubator those eggs went, as well.

I am happy to report, that, the little game hen accepted the chicks when they hatched. And she is very protective of them. She continued to sit on the fake eggs for another four days, so I decided to try her as a mother. I was hoping she would take better care of the chicks than she did of the eggs. And she has. She is very devoted to them.

She didn't take them out of the nursery coop until the third day, though. I made sure there was water and food in the nursery coop, as well as, out side in the pen. I watched her take the day old chicks, over to the water and teach them to drink, then over to the food, to eat. When I saw that, and how protective she was over them, I knew they would be OK. I tried not to disturb them too much for the first few days, so that they could bond even more.

Here they are on day two.

Here they are 12 days later.

 

[Acre4Me]

So far, So good on this first day!

She's been up from the nest a few times, but goes right back to it. She will cluck at the chicks in a low voice when we come too close.

The chicks have been inquisitive and are pecking at her or her comb or her wattles, but she just make a noise of displeasure and swings her head up and away. So far, no aggression towards the chicks.

There is a larger/taller open container of water in the brooder for her - on the far side where the chicks have not even ventured over towards. However, the momma hen wants to drink out of the much smaller waterer that the chicks are using nearest to the nest. She has also been up and eating a bit too.

 

[aart]

Sounds pretty good....Congrats!
Did you remove the one remaining egg?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes, sounds like she is showing them how to drink the water.

Be sure to put pebbles in the water bowls, so the chicks don't fall in and get chilled.
Sounds good!