Brooding hens left eggs

[chickengeorgeto]

I also checked all the eggs I brought up and 2 out of the 6 did not have any movement or any change in them at all. The other 4 had hair pockets and what seemed to be movement from them! mom has 3 chicks with her right now.

I strongly suspect that she will refuse to recognize any chick as hers if it is over 72 hours behind the development of her first peeps. That doesn't mean that she will kill that chick because a younger chick does not represent a danger to her own chicks, but only that she will not do the normal mothering behaviors.

 

[whitneyfarm]

I have 2 other mothers hens that are behind her in their hatching. is it possible to introduce any that are past the 72 hr that hatch to the other mothers?

 

[junebuggena]

I have 2 other mothers hens that are behind her in their hatching. is it possible to introduce any that are past the 72 hr that hatch to the other mothers?

This is possible, but do not give the chicks to one of the other hens until their eggs have hatched. Otherwise, they will abandon their eggs to take of the surrogate chicks.

 

[whitneyfarm]

ok. Thank you!! with the mommas around and it being summer do I need to put a light or anything in the coop with the chicks and moms?

 

[junebuggena]

You do not need a supplemental heat source for chicks with a momma. The mothers will keep the chicks at just the right temperature.

 

[whitneyfarm]

Awesome! That's what I thought but just wanted to check to make sure! Thank you all for your help!!

 

[dekel18042]

This is possible, but do not give the chicks to one of the other hens until their eggs have hatched. Otherwise, they will abandon their eggs to take of the surrogate chicks.

Obviously my broody did not read or understand this post. First time mama, some of her eggs hatched, and she stayed glued to the remainder of the eggs while her hatchlings came out from under her.

We confiscated them and put them in the brooder and then added the other chicks I had hoped to introduce her into raising with her own.
Incubator hatching was a piece of cake compared to this. I now have three broody hens (plus this one is broody again) but one seems very protective of her stolen eggs. Perhaps if I get brave enough next year or want something badly enough I'll see how that one does with a clutch.