Broody hen????

[BaileyMChicks]

Hi I have a hen with 5 7-day-old chicks. I would like to hatch for someone and I have 2 other broody hens. But, the area I have(the only area I have btw) is already being used by the hen with chicks. So I separated it with cardboard and put a hen in. But it's dark and small. Both broodys hated it and wouldn't sit on eggs. So, I was wondering if it was ok for her to sit on eggs while taking care of chicks? Would they be able to get under mom? I would only be using 4or5 full sized and a banty egg. The hen is a cochin banty.

And, if I put another broody hen in there, with the area not separated, would the new hen kill the chicks? Like, id obviously put a separate nesting box, but they all could be around each other. They would also share food and water.would the mom protect the chicks? Idk..... I just really wanna hatch chicks. We do not have a bator btw, so I can't hatch in an incubator.

The eggs were not sat on (at least, not very much) last night, but I collected them from my coop Friday afternoon. So they were fresh. Would the eggs still hatch? The temp got to around the upper 40's(i think???) last night. So not too cold....

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Den in Penn]

You can put the broody with the chicks in with the rest of the flock. That would open up the area you want the new broody to use. Move them at night into a nest on the floor. The mom will keep the chicks safe while they are introduced to the flock. The broody with chicks is in the raising phase of chick rearing and won't stay on the eggs during the day to keep them warm. The broody that is still sitting will not get off the nest to peck at chicks. So the chicks would be safe unless they got too close, which they quickly learn not to.

 

[Free Feather]

Yeah, just let the hen and chicks out. She will not set while raising chicks, and they have better luck integrating the chicks if they are all together.

 

[BaileyMChicks]

Update-
I got rid of the cardboard and made a new nest box and the broody has settled in fine. All the chicks are doing fine, too. No one is hurt. I think this'll work out pretty good.

 

[BaileyMChicks]

Ok, well, there seems to be trouble in paradise. Frazzle(mama hen), aka Super *****, keeps chasing the other hen off her nest and the eggs get cold. I'm going to try to separate the area again. Should I use cardboard like before, or should I try chicken wire? Idk.

 

[Free Feather]

Cardboard so they will not see one another.

 

[BaileyMChicks]

Ok i know i was asking about what to do with my hen, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me what sex they are.

Judith

Rosy

Margie

Shadow

Spring

All of the chicks r nine days old. Is that too young to tell? From pictures, I mean. I tried feather sexing, but they all look the same; short feathers then long flight feathers...:/ Also, what age do you start to see a pea comb starting?? Cuz one (Margie) has a pea comb.....don't know why...I'm 95% positive her mom was a California white and her dad was a RIR... Anyways....I just wanna know cuz we can't have any more roosters, unless it's Spring, cuz she/he's a cochin banty. And my mom says its ok for is to have another small rooster. Springs mom what a white cochin banty(was said to be a frizzle by hatchery, but didnt frizzle) and its dad is a blue(was said to be black, but I'm pretty sure he's blue lol...hatcheries can b stupid..) cochin banty roo who was also said to be a frizzle but didnt frizzle. Anyways thanks oh and btw I don't know if you can see it but Judith, shadow and rosy all have fairly long tail feathers coming in, as well as shoulder feathers...the other 2..not so much...

 

[Free Feather]

It is easier to tell for sure when they are at least two weeks old, or at least that his been the case with me. I cannot tell for sure yet. The boy's combs and wattles are darker and bigger at that age.

 

[Den in Penn]

I vote for the chicken wire for the divider, it will let the light and air through. Have you considered moving Super ***** and her chicks in with the rest of the flock?