Bad Mama :(

[debducttape]

So I have had a broody chicken for about 5 weeks now. She has been very good about sitting for days on end, but she has broken several sets of eggs that we have given her. She sat on a golf ball for the last week, and I was thinking it was about time to break her of it and get some chicks. Well we snuck them under her after dark, but she was awake enough to peck them. In the morning we go out to check, 4 of them are huddled together in the corner, one was under her, and one had fallen out of the chicken tractor onto the ground and was freezing. I went and rescued the chicks and now they are happily peeping in a box next to me. So.... what went wrong? Is there some magic to getting a broody to accept surrogate chicks? Is there any chance we could do a do-over and get her to accept them? I really hadn't bargained on raising more chicks in the house.... To make matters worse, when I went out there last night, there was another broody (who is also trying to hatch a golf ball) ARRRGG!!! Is there any hope for us?

 

[Beekissed]

If there was light enough during the transfer that she could actually see to peck them, then it might have been too much light. I always use a flashlight and never point it directly where I am working. Then I slip my hand, holding the chick, under her and let the chick go when it is full under the bird. They never actually see a chick, just my hand and sometimes they will give a little peck on my hand when I'm doing this, but it is usually too dark for them to get up or move away from the disturbance.

I've done this several times and have never had a broody reject a brood of orphans. Did you remove the golf ball? She could be trying to sit that last "egg" also.

Here's a good way to insure she has to spend more time on the chicks....up end a cardboard box over her and the nest, keeping her in the dark with the chicks under her. You can cut a flap and keep it closed...after they have been together all night and part of that day, open the flap and monitor the results.

 

[debducttape]

Is it too late to try again?

 

[ChickenLover WI]

No it is not to late try it again. You will be ok and try her idea with the box covered over her so that she can spend more time with them and next day making that flap. This way you also can feel better knowing a chick won't be left out. Let us know what happens please and thank you. Have a great day good luck to you and your babies.