Broody Hen Thread!

[Nksg75]

Ok, I think as soon as my daughter gets home I am going to let her experience the constant peeping.
Then maby I won't feel so bad about putting it outside. It was driving me batty, I held it, tried this and that, and everytime I set it down, it starts again.
I drove to a few feed stores begging them if they had any chicks maby hidden in the back, yada, yada.. Like they were really hiding chicks!!
No luck!!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Ok, I think as soon as my daughter gets home I am going to let her experience the constant peeping.
Then maby I won't feel so bad about putting it outside. It was driving me batty, I held it, tried this and that, and everytime I set it down, it starts again.
I drove to a few feed stores begging them if they had any chicks maby hidden in the back, yada, yada.. Like they were really hiding chicks!!
No luck!!

Did you try craigslist.com?

 

[Nksg75]

Yes, and you would think I could find some there, but no luck. Just roosters(adult) and older chickens.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yes, and you would think I could find some there, but no luck. Just roosters(adult) and older chickens.

Try the Texas thread? I'd give the momma another chance, just with supervision.

 

[Nksg75]

I agree, I am going to put the chick in with her again tonight. After my daughter got home from school, she took the chick outside and pushed the issue with the momma hen. While looking out the window, I saw the hen almost close to charging the chick. She started flapping her wings, and it didn't look good. She didn't do that this morning, so I am hoping all was not lost by that mistake. I will see though.
I will try again tonight late and hope for a successful outcome.
Thank you for the help.

 

[fisherlady]

I agree, I am going to put the chick in with her again tonight. After my daughter got home from school, she took the chick outside and pushed the issue with the momma hen. While looking out the window, I saw the hen almost close to charging the chick. She started flapping her wings, and it didn't look good. She didn't do that this morning, so I am hoping all was not lost by that mistake. I will see though.
I will try again tonight late and hope for a successful outcome.
Thank you for the help.

It may work, but will need a more controlled environment.
Even if the broody doesn't specifically dislike the little one she will dislike the cheeping of a distressed chick when she isn't bonded to it. A distressed cheeping is basically like a siren saying "hey predators, there's a weakling here! Easy pickings!" The broody won't tolerate that because it puts her and her other chick at risk.
I think the only chance you have at making it work would be to keep the hen in a small area (maybe 5x5) with a small area under a heat lamp or with a heating pad for the chick to run under. This will keep the hen close enough for the little one to feel more secure and hopefully it will be quieter. After 3 or 4 days the smaller one can keep up for short excursions but will still need supervision. Free ranging after that will depend on chicks progress.
I use a kids hard plastic swimming pool with a couple inches of sand in it as a brooder, you can then spread scratch and treats in the sand for the hen to 'find' for the chicks. Bird netting on a pvc hoop frame keeps them in the pool.

 

[the poppster]

I agree, I am going to put the chick in with her again tonight. After my daughter got home from school, she took the chick outside and pushed the issue with the momma hen. While looking out the window, I saw the hen almost close to charging the chick. She started flapping her wings, and it didn't look good. She didn't do that this morning, so I am hoping all was not lost by that mistake. I will see though.
I will try again tonight late and hope for a successful outcome.
Thank you for the help.

Ok...this is what I did with my orphan chick when the chirping got to be to much....I took a towel and set the chick in the center....then gently wrapped it up in it....loosely but no open areas....then took the little critter to bed with me....when it chirped I would just pat the towel wrapped baby and murmur reassuring nonsense to it and it would fall asleep....yes I did this for a week or more....as it got older and it started to find its way out of the towel....nothing like having those sharp little claws scrambling up your neck as the chick tries to snuggle up to your ear....it was time to set up a brooded cage for the little one and move it out to the coop...it was cute....her name is "Coco Puff" a brown Orpington pullet.

 

[Nksg75]

Ahh, that makes sense. I never thought about the cheering being annoying to the hen. Yes, your right, it would be like a siren for predators saying "here I am, come get me".
I ended up falling asleep last night and did not put the chick in with the mother hen.
I will wait till tonight and repeat the same process, and skip taking the chick outside today.
In the meantime, I have one last ditch effort to get a chick. It's a long drive, and she may only have week old chicks. If the chicks are 1-2 weeks old, is that ok?
What would you say is the cutoff age to put in with this 2 day old chick?
Another issue is I vaccinate for marked, due to losing my daughters hen to it. So this is why I really like to have day olds, so I can vaccinate.
I made sure I was stocked up on the vaccine, just in case. So I have it on hand to administer to any chicks I hatch. If I am able to get a chick, this will be the first I have not hatched myself. Makes me a tad nervous though.

 

[the poppster]

I've never vaccinated at home....only had chicks that I ordered vaccinated...I'd look it up....I believe Mercks (not sure about the spelling) needs to be vaccinated against right away

 

[Nksg75]

Well, good news!! I have a friend for my chick!! Yaah!!! They hatched the same day, and I will vaccinate it today! I realize it should have been done already, however for my own reasons, I am going to vaccinate it at 2 days old!!