Broody abandoned nest-Day 18!

[rebrascora]

3 out of 4 is still a bit of a miracle after them getting chilled like that. Well done to you and your broody.
I understand you wanting to bring her indoors, but don't put her in a warm room as they will get used to the warmth and then not cope well with going back out, particularly at this time of year.

It is an absolute pleasure to watch a broody hen rearing chicks. I hope you continue to enjoy the experience and it all goes smoothly.

 

[langfordcr]

Thank you for your continued advice! The other 5 hens who chose to lay in her nest that day must have sat long enough to keep them alive. Here are the Three Amigos this morning while momma was out doing her business.

 

[rebrascora]

They are absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the updates and posting the photos.
You are letting the broody raise them aren't you?.... I always feel so sorry for the broody when people take their chicks off them after they have done the hard slog of incubating them.

What breed(s) are they?

 

[langfordcr]

Yes, we are allowing momma to raise them. She was out doing her business when we took these pictures. Our rooster is a Gold Laced Wyandotte. The "twins" are from Black Sex-Link hens and the gray one is from an Easter Egger/Ameraucana hen. So we have our first set of mutts! LOL

 

[aart]

Yes, we are allowing momma to raise them. She was out doing her business when we took these pictures. Our rooster is a Gold Laced Wyandotte. The "twins" are from Black Sex-Link hens and the gray one is from an Easter Egger/Ameraucana hen. So we have our first set of mutts! LOL

Did she set and hatch in the coop with the flock...and is she there now?

 

[langfordcr]

She incubated and hatched them in a nesting box in our coop. Once hatched we moved her and the chicks to a dog crate with starter crumbles and water. We had a storm last night so we brought them inside and they've been inside so far today. I'm going to move them out during the day and inside at night for a week or so and depending on the weather. We built a temporary run for them to keep them separated from the flock, our dogs, and predators until they are big enough to integrate. The dog crate will stay in the run as their "coop" and I'll close it up each night.

 

[aart]

She incubated and hatched them in a nesting box in our coop. Once hatched we moved her and the chicks to a dog crate with starter crumbles and water. We had a storm last night so we brought them inside and they've been inside so far today. I'm going to move them out during the day and inside at night for a week or so and depending on the weather. We built a temporary run for them to keep them separated from the flock, our dogs, and predators until they are big enough to integrate. The dog crate will stay in the run as their "coop" and I'll close it up each night.

She can keep them warm.....no need to bring them in, unless where she is isn't protected from the weather.
She can start integrating them after just a few days.

 

[langfordcr]

Their coop is a dog crate which will go inside of an A-frame run with tin covering one end. But it's not enclosed. We moved them in that first night because we had storms. I was worried about sideways rain! Momma is doing a great job with them!

 

[langfordcr]

I wanted to update on our babies who are 3 weeks tomorrow. All 3 are doing fantastic. Momma hen is awesome. They are fully integrated, free ranging during the day and sleeping in the coop with the rest of the flock at night. Watching a broody do her thing has been the best experience and definitely the way to go!! I appreciate the help I received here!

 

[aart]

I wanted to update on our babies who are 3 weeks tomorrow. All 3 are doing fantastic. Momma hen is awesome. They are fully integrated, free ranging during the day and sleeping in the coop with the rest of the flock at night. Watching a broody do her thing has been the best experience and definitely the way to go!! I appreciate the help I received here!