Broody hen hatched a chick. Need advice.

[jnicholes]

So, to start off, this is the same chicken I’ve spoke of earlier that was constantly broody. However, shortly after my last post on that thread, I noticed that she was getting up to eat and leaving the eggs. Then she went right back to sitting on them.

I decided to take a gambit, so I went to a friend’s house, and she gave me four fertilized eggs. I decided to put them in the nest where the broody hen was.

Today, they hatched. Unfortunately, only one made it.

I have no idea what breed this little one is, or the gender, but that’s not why I’m posting.

I’m posting because I need some advice. Do you think it’s wise to have it raised by the brooding hen with the other chickens, or do you think I should put it in a brooder for the time being?

Anyway, I’m also switching the entire flock to chick starter feed to accommodate for this little one. I also put a little thing of water in the nesting box for it to drink from. It’s shallow enough that it won’t drown.

Any advice for me will be appreciated.

Regards,

Jared

 

[BDutch]

I’m posting because I need some advice. Do you think it’s wise to have it raised by the brooding hen with the other chickens, or do you think I should put it in a brooder for the time being?

Yes, bc the broody has only one chick to follow and defend this is the best option if you ask me.
The chicks has its mama and this is good companion. She/he is not alone.

The broody will take care if everything if there is chick feed and fresh water near the nest-box to start with. (Not inside) If there is a steep ramp, you better make it less steep for the chick to go up again easily the first few days. You can add water to the crumble or the chick pellets. Less mess and easier to digest.

 

[Kurczaklover]

Leave it with the broody. Chickens are social animals, one by itself will not thrive. The hens below had one one chick each last week, they are in a coop with 30+ chickens at night, free range during the day and they are fine. They each took their solo baby foraging by the second day.

 

[jnicholes]

Yes, bc the broody has only one chick to follow and defend this is the best option if you ask me.
The chicks has its mama and this is good companion. She/he is not alone.

The broody will take care if everything if there is chick feed and fresh water near the nest-box to start with. (Not inside) If there is a steep ramp, you better make it less steep for the chick to go up again easily the first few days. You can add water to the crumble or the chick pellets. Less mess and easier to digest.

Leave it with the broody. Chickens are social animals, one by itself will not thrive. The hens below had one one chick each last week, they are in a coop with 30+ chickens at night, free range during the day and they are fine. They each took their solo baby foraging by the second day.

Awesome, thank you both.

 

[Perris]

I concur. Leaving it with the broody is best - for her, as well as for the chick. And the rest of the flock will learn what chicken family life is about too.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

She should be fine caring for the chick, and the flock will likely leave the chick alone.

I have a couple pullets who are co-raising 3 chicks they hatched. (Chicks are now 3 weeks old). None of the flock has bothered the chicks so far.

 

[peastix]

So, to start off, this is the same chicken I’ve spoke of earlier that was constantly broody. However, shortly after my last post on that thread, I noticed that she was getting up to eat and leaving the eggs. Then she went right back to sitting on them.

I decided to take a gambit, so I went to a friend’s house, and she gave me four fertilized eggs. I decided to put them in the nest where the broody hen was.

Today, they hatched. Unfortunately, only one made it.

View attachment 4163296

I have no idea what breed this little one is, or the gender, but that’s not why I’m posting.

I’m posting because I need some advice. Do you think it’s wise to have it raised by the brooding hen with the other chickens, or do you think I should put it in a brooder for the time being?

Anyway, I’m also switching the entire flock to chick starter feed to accommodate for this little one. I also put a little thing of water in the nesting box for it to drink from. It’s shallow enough that it won’t drown.

Any advice for me will be appreciated.

Regards,

Jared

I had a broody I put 3 eggs under twice.Both times she hatched a single chick.{both female yay!} By 5 weeks babies were perching on roost along side mum completely unbothered.

 

[Rick589]

I just went, and in fact I am currently going through this with two chicks hatched by one of our broody BO’s. We’re new to this and have sought advice on what to do next after the hatch. What we decided and are now currently doing is leaving the chicks with their mother IN the coop with the rest of the flock. Our chicks are currently only about 5 days old and are hopping out of the coop followed by mom and we’ll put them back in when we need to. For is this has been the easiest thing ever. The rest of the flock doesn’t bother, but do interact, with the chicks and/or broody.
We were going to move them to a brooder but opted not to because of the way things have been going without a lot of human intervention.

 

[BDutch]

If there is enough space and the mother hatched just a couple - handful chicks its often a good choice to leave the young family within the flock
If hens are aggressive or the setup is rather cramped , it’s better not to leave the mom and chicks in the flock imho. And also if there are many chicks, bc it’s a difficult job for the mother to raise and protect many chicks in an environment with lots of things going on, as long as the chicks are real small and vulnerable.