Broody hen, mites, and chicks hatching now (lost one)

[PupsNHens]

My first hatchling is not doing well. She seemed fine this morning, but when I checked on the later in the day, the chick was under the hen, but in the back of the nest box, very listless, and panting. I've given her a drop of NutriDrench and some water, but she isn't improving. Is it possible they could over heat under the hen? Button keep pushing the egg farther under her, even now as they try to hatch. the temps wee in the 90s today. if she keep pushing the chicks under her, could they overheat?

 

[PupsNHens]

My first hatchling is not doing well. She seemed fine this morning, but when I checked on the later in the day, the chick was under the hen, but in the back of the nest box, very listless, and panting. I've given her a drop of NutriDrench and some water, but she isn't improving. Is it possible they could over heat under the hen? Button keep pushing the egg farther under her, even now as they try to hatch. the temps wee in the 90s today. if she keep pushing the chicks under her, could they overheat?

I just lost her-my first, and so far only, baby hatched. I honestly don't know what to do at this point. Do I move the hen and eggs because of the mites even though chicks are in the process of hatching (I'm seeing pips in several eggs now)? When they peep, Button pushes the eggs around under her. Should I put them in the house where I can keep an eye on her with the babies? Leave them alone and hope for the best? I don't think I'm cut out for this hatching stuff.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Oh no! My condolences on your poor little chick. That's heartbreaking.

I've never watched a hatch under a broody. What you're describing could be perfectly normal. Try starting a new thread in the emergency forum. You'll get more attention and responses that way.

 

[PupsNHens]

Oh no! My condolences on your poor little chick. That's heartbreaking.

I've never watched a hatch under a broody. What you're describing could be perfectly normal. Try starting a new thread in the emergency forum. You'll get more attention and responses that way.

I've decided that my hen wants to brood eggs, but not chicks. When the second one came along, she would peck at it if it came out from under her. I've set up a dog crate with Koop Clean and a heat plate, and I'll be removing the babies as they hatch and moving them to the brooder. It's going to be a long night, but if they babies do well, it'll be worth it.

 

[MorningCrowing]

My broody last year had a ton of little red mites right after they hatched. I'd I'd never seen them before and it was a complete shock. I didn't notice until the chicks were 2-3 days old. So a little different then you are experiencing.

Here's what I did. Started by completely stripping down the 8x8 box stall they were in. Wooden sided were sprayed generously with Manna Pro Poultry Protector. I dumped down diatomaceous earth on the ground and sides before putting down clean bedding. Anything plastic, like the dog crate they hatched in, was hosed, bleached, and sprayed with poultry protect.

The hen got a generous dose of Poultry Protect, and dusted with DE and Y-TEX Gardstar Garden & Poultry Dust. I dusted each chick(14!) individually with the DE and Poultry Dust. The Y-TEX Gardstar Garden & Poultry Dust has some heavy insecticides and I was hesitant about using it on young chick. Ultimately I decided that the mites were the greater evil and used a generous pinch under wing and around the vents.

About 1 day after treatment we stopped seeing mites. I would check for mites at night as that's when they really come out. I gave everyone a second dose of DE and Poultry Dust after 2 weeks to catch any hangers on. I've continued to use Poultry Dust on my whole flock ever few months and use DE in nest boxes or when new bedding is put down.

I hope this offers you hope. It's a nasty problem but very much controllable.

Hey, we have the same problem but the mites are getting on us- what should we do- is this an issue? Thanks

 

[casportpony]

Hey, we have the same problem but the mites are getting on us- what should we do- is this an issue? Thanks

You should treat the hen,the chicks and the coop with permethrin spray or powder.