Broody hen's egg hatched today..now what???

[marthak897]

Ok all you chicken experts out there my broody hen's egg hatched today, what do I do now. The nesting boxes are 4 feet off the ground, how is the little chick going to eat and drink? Do I put mamma and baby on the coop floor or do I leave her be? We have 6 other mature hens and a rooster, are they going to hurt the chick? We also just received our order of broilers, white rocks and Ameracaunas yesterday, should I put the new chick with them?? Please help!! We thought the egg wasn't going to hatch and were letting a grumpy hen have her way, but YIKES A BABY.

 

[DavidKerk]

There is a chance that the other chickens will kill the baby chick. I would probably separate the mom and her chick from the rest of the flock, or if the new chicks you got are within a couple days of age as this chick you can put the chick in with them just make sure they accept him (they should because at only a couple days of age they have no pecking order established.) If you decide to take the risk of keeping the chick in with the mature flock, then take she/he and her mom out of the nesting box as the chick can't get down to eat or drink and if it does try it might hurt itself. I hope it works out!

 

[aggiemae]

Unless your hens is very attentive it would be best for her and her chick to put the chick in with the others you are brooding.

 

[marthak897]

Baby chick has been with the others for 2 days now and is getting along well. It is a little smaller than the others but has some spunk. Baby will do ok.

 

[Brandi Leigh]

Baby chick has been with the others for 2 days now and is getting along well. It is a little smaller than the others but has some spunk. Baby will do ok.

Good luck!