Banty hen just hatched chicks in freezing Jan. weather- please advise

[miladachicken]

we need pictures

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
Send mama too

 

[chickenannie]

Mama is a fierce banty -- she would never put up with being caged. The chicks' new family has a small house and no experience with chickens. It is easier for them to handle just the chicks.
Having said that, it WAS really hard for me to take them from mama. But I told hen mama that her chicks have a much
better chance of surviving this way. I think a hen mom would want that, even if she doesn't understand what's going on. The chicks' new human family also has a disabled son, so it will help the son too, to have some nice contact with the chicks.

I got the chicks settled in to their new home, and I could tell by the way they relaxed under the heat lamp that they have probably been cold all this time. They LOVED having that inside heat. I, on the other hand, had my car heated like a sauna so they would be warm on the drive there. How do other people keep a few chicks warm during transport? I had heated a towel first, for the chicks to sit on, but it didn't stay warm for very long out in the winter weather. Maybe I'll put up another post on that question...

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

Quote:
I would take them for you.. but it would be too far of a drive from central new york, Good Luck!

 

[bubblebean11]

YOu should just let the mama have the babies and like others said let nature take its course. If they are still alive now they will be fine, They would have died already if they were going to. I would take a chance on the mama over someone with no chicken experience. And poor mama if you do, IMO not fair.

 

[CoopCrazy]

When i have transported chicks in the cold I use those lil hand warmers for hunting.. They are disposable and cheap.. I used to have a Bearded dragon so I always had a bunch sitting in my emergency kit incase the power went out... They work great as the chicks can move closer or further away just like a heat lamp... and they are good for 8 hours as well..

 

[chickenannie]

I know ... it's always a tough decision. I probably have too much empathy for all the chickens involved and the feelings of the hen mom. Normally, I would never take chicks away from their momma. But I am probably saving their lives this way. We had a crazy rain storm for hours last night and it's continuing today -- wind and piles of rain and wet ground and huge puddles everywhere even in the grass where the chickens are. I feel good that my chicks are safe and dry inside, the chance of them getting soaked and/or drowned on a day like this would be very high, despite their momma's care. And tommorrow the temps drop down to freezing again. So I don't have to worry anymore. And the chicks "new family" is a very good, pet-loving family. I have no doubt they will take great care of the little chicks.
those of you who wrote from texas and arizona might not have the same temps that we do here.
Thanks everyone.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Your chicks would have been fine with the bantie, she would not have taken them outside if the weather was unsuitable. If this happens again to you (it will with banties!) just see to it that she has food and water suitable for the chicks inside. You can also provide a light bulb in the area of the food and water. For just a few chicks I'd often just use a trouble light and cover it with a tent of BBQ tin foil. If they have a small waterer and some chicks starter there thye would be just fine. I have had chicks happen at -20 C and they work out, I just provide for them inside. Sometimes that means a temp net enclosure so the other adults don't steal their stuff. Deer netting is a good thing to have on hand, I just throw it over a couple saw horses and anchor the edges with 2x4 or whatever I have around.

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Wow, OK. With -20 temps and northern country exposure, that is quite serious! Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm curious, if chicks normally need temps of 95 degrees, how is that they can survive fine without it too? Are we raising all our chicks wrong? Just thinking about all this... And, what if they get wet feet in 25 degree weather? Wouldn't their little feet just freeze?