At what point should I fire this hen from motherhood?

[SoORchick73]

I have a hen that hatched one chick Sunday, the other Tuesday night and it's almost Friday and she still wants to brood. I'm having to bring the babies food and water, she won't take them out. My other mamas did a great job and left the barn to free range and visit feeders/waterers by two days of life. What should I do? She keeps going into the broody hens nesting box next to her and shoves her out and sits on her eggs with the chicks with her. Sometimes the chicks are simply with the other "future mom hen." They are all making me crazy!!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

NO ANSWER... Other than let NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE...

BUT WISHING YOU BEST

 

[SoORchick73]

Thanks! lol I'm seriously OVER it switching hens to the right nesting boxes, chicks to the right moms...they are all being ding dongs. Did I mention it's been 106-108 for the last week and I'm making this trip to my barn multiple times a day to sort out these parenting issues??

I even resorted to this at one point:

...to keep the chicks from confusing themselves with who mom is. Is this normal for a chick to go between moms multiple times a day?

 

[SoORchick73]

ps that didn't work, and from 11-4 it's high traffic with laying hens (this is my first hatch with hens that didn't just "disappear and return with chicks") That was WAY easier lol although seeing the pip the night before was neat. Not neat enough to go through this hassle though

 

[cavemanrich]

You are obviously going beyond the call of duty.. Now on the subject of Farenheit 108.. How are your chicks dealing with it ??? Have you considered misting with water spray.??? Here in Illinois, looks like summer is having a difficult time starting. I am enjoying it since it is ideal in my opinion.

Chicago, IL 

 12:40 AM CDT on July 03, 2015 (GMT -0500)
West Loop - Old St. Pats | Report


Active Advisory: Beach Hazard Statement Active Notice: Public Information Statement
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Today is forecast to be Much Warmer than yesterday.
Today
High 74 | Low 62 °F
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Yesterday
High 64.5 | Low 56.8 °F
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Sun & Moon
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Humidity 73%
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UV 0 out of 12
Pollen 3.30 out of 12
Air Quality Not available.

 

[SoORchick73]

I bought an industrial fan for my barn and I'm literally down there changing that water to cool water 3,4 maybe 5 times a day. I'm changing the other hens water 3x a day anyway (I have a mister in my run where they all congregate) Nobody seems to leave the run beyond 10 am. :\ Chicks seem to be fine but I wish that mom would get off her fluffy butt and take them out! I have two birdbath basins I'm filling with cool water 3-4x a day too, right in the run by the mister. I really don't want to foster these chicks in the house, or continue checking on them so much. Here is the "chicken oasis" in the run. I've put frozen water jugs in there on the worst days too

Above and beyond, I needed to hear someone else confirm the voices in my head

 

[Folly's place]

It's probably fine, don't worry so much about the broody's behavior. Some hens just stay close to the nest longer than others. She may still think some eggs will hatch, if she's still sitting on them. Have you candled them lately? I have a chick feeder and waterer very close to the nest and babies; they eat and drink as needed. Mary

 

[SoORchick73]

I candled the last egg and it was a dud and I removed it

 

[SoORchick73]

The problem is the temp is so hot, 108 and she's shoving herself in with other broody hen who has 8 eggs. The chicks don't know what to do and I'm afraid it will break the other broodys eggs.

 

[SoORchick73]

This did the trick...I blocked in the broody with eggs so she could sit in peace. The chicks are no longer confused as to who the mom is (the mom that hatched sun/tue) and she's talking to them finally and teaching them how to be chicks now instead of proofing out and trying to steal the other broodys nest box! I'm glad she got it together. Sheesh that was a long week