Broody and chicks: am I doing this right?

[featheredbelles]

Sounds just like what I did and all is well with my new little family. Did you do the introduction in the dark? Conventional wisdom says that's the way to go.

Yes, it was dark. I just checked very quick and all is quiet and I don't see the chicks, so I hope they're sleeping underneath. Fingers crossed!!

 

[azygous]

I just introduced 2 baby chicks to my broody hen and I am a nervous wreck! She's 2 weeks broody and only got off the nest once a day for 20min max. I just put them underneath her when it was dark and closed the nesting box. I stayed for 10 min and everything was pretty quiet, just a few soft peeps of the chicks. I tried to reach in and check if they were really covered underneath her, but she pecked on me very hard, so I guess that's a good sign..? Should I check back and make sure she didn't kick them out or pecked them or rather leave alone? I couldn't see them, so they seemed to be covered when I left. I'm still so nervous. I check back first thing in the morning. The chicks are about 4 days old and I had them under the heat lamp for about 3 hrs and they ate and drank. Any advice here? Does this sound okay?

Yes, I would check on your broody and the chicks over the next 24 hours. You don't have do do anything more than listen. If it's quiet, all is well. If you hear frantic chirping, the experiment has failed and it will be back to the brooder.

 

[featheredbelles]

Yes, I would check on your broody and the chicks over the next 24 hours. You don't have do do anything more than listen. If it's quiet, all is well. If you hear frantic chirping, the experiment has failed and it will be back to the brooder.

Thank you, will do!

 

[featheredbelles]

Yes, I would check on your broody and the chicks over the next 24 hours. You don't have do do anything more than listen. If it's quiet, all is well. If you hear frantic chirping, the experiment has failed and it will be back to the brooder.

Just hoping I will catch frantic chirping in time! Will try my best!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

@featheredbelles I'm guessing you will be getting about as much sleep tonight as I did last night - which was almost none. The plight of the broody mom's mom...let us know how it goes.

 

[featheredbelles]

Lol

@featheredbelles I'm guessing you will be getting about as much sleep tonight as I did last night - which was almost none. The plight of the broody mom's mom...let us know how it goes.

LOL, so true! Will keep you posted.

 

[featheredbelles]

So far everything seems fine. I can't see the chicks though, but don't want to interrupt. All is quiet and she puffs up when I look inside. I just hope she will let them eat and drink. I put it all close to them. I took 2 of the 4 eggs out when I put in the chicks. Will she leaves the nest with them when she still has eggs? Should I take them out? Wonder how long they usually sit on chicks before they leave the nest..?

 

[azygous]

Oh. I didn't know she was still sitting on eggs. That will retard her willingness to start caring for the chicks.

Are the eggs fertilized? If so, how close to hatching would they be? This complicates things if they're due to hatch and she already has older chicks.

 

[featheredbelles]

No, they're not fertilized. So I take them out? Probably when it gets dark, so she won't get too riled up..?

Oh. I didn't know she was still sitting on eggs. That will retard her willingness to start caring for the chicks.

Are the eggs fertilized? If so, how close to hatching would they be? This complicates things if they're due to hatch and she already has older chicks.

 

[azygous]

It's up to you, but she's not going to start focusing on those chicks until the eggs are no longer under her.

I would remove the eggs right away so the chicks can start getting the care they need.