Broody Hen Thread!

[abserbean]

Nutrition I'm not worried about, her chicks are eight weeks old, and she did great with her last hatch. She didn't seem to lose any weight, and the weeks of chick starter have her fat and sassy. Plus, I feed her treats and give her water in the nest. I am worried about the heat though, it is so muggy here. It wasn't too bad when she sat two months ago, but sitting all day in a coop in FL in July sounds miserable! I'm taking some roos to a swap this weekend, maybe I can find her some day old chicks.

 

[TiaRC]

Nutrition I'm not worried about, her chicks are eight weeks old, and she did great with her last hatch. She didn't seem to lose any weight, and the weeks of chick starter have her fat and sassy. Plus, I feed her treats and give her water in the nest. I am worried about the heat though, it is so muggy here. It wasn't too bad when she sat two months ago, but sitting all day in a coop in FL in July sounds miserable! I'm taking some roos to a swap this weekend, maybe I can find her some day old chicks.

Sounds like she will do just fine with another hatch. Heat wise. Keep her in a cooled area. Make sure she has water always and maybe look into getting a mister

 

[Hooligans7]

This may have been addressed, but what if there's only one chick that hatched? Does an "only child" have special needs or dangers I should be aware of?
We had two fertile eggs but one was broken, so there's just one live chick this morning after 21 days of "Emma" sitting on it. Do I need a brooder box with access for Emma? Will the other hens be nice to the baby chick? Should I separate mama and baby from the rest?
I appreciate any and all suggestions!

 

[TiaRC]

This may have been addressed, but what if there's only one chick that hatched? Does an "only child" have special needs or dangers I should be aware of? We had two fertile eggs but one was broken, so there's just one live chick this morning after 21 days of "Emma" sitting on it. Do I need a brooder box with access for Emma? Will the other hens be nice to the baby chick? Should I separate mama and baby from the rest? I appreciate any and all suggestions!

Please separate them. Being the only chick mama will be very protective. But that won't keep curious chickens from pecking and pulling on it. Keep the new mama and baby away for a week she the chick is strong enough to keep up with the flock and run

 

[SD Bird Lady]

This may have been addressed, but what if there's only one chick that hatched? Does an "only child" have special needs or dangers I should be aware of?
We had two fertile eggs but one was broken, so there's just one live chick this morning after 21 days of "Emma" sitting on it. Do I need a brooder box with access for Emma? Will the other hens be nice to the baby chick? Should I separate mama and baby from the rest?
I appreciate any and all suggestions!

Momma will take care of her so no special needs because she is a lone chick. Some people prefer to separate their broodies but I prefer to just keep her in a dog crate until all the eggs hatch and then they go with the general population. My reason being that the chicks are part of the pecking order and there is no need for me to reintroduce anyone. In my opinion reintroduction is much more complicated than a curious hen or too getting their butt kicked by an upset momma.

 

[Hooligans7]

Please separate them. Being the only chick mama will be very protective. But that won't keep curious chickens from pecking and pulling on it. Keep the new mama and baby away for a week she the chick is strong enough to keep up with the flock and run

Thank you! I've got to make things right for mama and chick so I'll get to it right now. Thanks again, TiaRC.

 

[Hooligans7]

Momma will take care of her so no special needs because she is a lone chick. Some people prefer to separate their broodies but I prefer to just keep her in a dog crate until all the eggs hatch and then they go with the general population. My reason being that the chicks are part of the pecking order and there is no need for me to reintroduce anyone. In my opinion reintroduction is much more complicated than a curious hen or too getting their butt kicked by an upset momma.

OK, this is a dissenting opinion. The situation now is that mama and chick are in a nesting box that's about two feet up from the coop floor (in a raised structure off the ground). As long as baby doesn't fall out of the nesting box, it may be OK, but there's nothing to stop another hen from getting to the baby when Emma leaves the nest for any reason. Should I be concerned?

I was thinking of putting a box (on its side) with bedding on the coop floor so baby can't fall, but I have to figure out how to move them out of the nesting box and into their new accommodations. Emma can be fierce!

 

[ChickyChickens]

This may have been addressed, but what if there's only one chick that hatched? Does an "only child" have special needs or dangers I should be aware of? We had two fertile eggs but one was broken, so there's just one live chick this morning after 21 days of "Emma" sitting on it. Do I need a brooder box with access for Emma? Will the other hens be nice to the baby chick? Should I separate mama and baby from the rest? I appreciate any and all suggestions!

I would just leave her as if she had 2 chicks. So if you were going to separate her then do and if not then don't. Just to say I once had a broody who also only raised one chick and now that lone chick is my flocks top hen.

 

[AVintageLife]

I had a very determined broody banty, friends who wanted silkie chicks and so I put some silkie eggs under her. My question is when can I give away the chicks? I'd like to give her at least a week with them (silkie chicks are so small) but the friends want the chicks as soon as possible so they can bond. I would hate to take the chicks away too soon and have the banty go back to being broody. She will really need to get back with the rest of the flock and start putting some weight back on. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[TiaRC]

OK, this is a dissenting opinion. The situation now is that mama and chick are in a nesting box that's about two feet up from the coop floor (in a raised structure off the ground). As long as baby doesn't fall out of the nesting box, it may be OK, but there's nothing to stop another hen from getting to the baby when Emma leaves the nest for any reason. Should I be concerned?

I was thinking of putting a box (on its side) with bedding on the coop floor so baby can't fall, but I have to figure out how to move them out of the nesting box and into their new accommodations. Emma can be fierce! 

Get them on the ground! Babies are phenomenal for accidentually falling.