Broody serama

[Bennythechick]

I have a serama that recently went broody(the white hen in my avatar).Right now she is sitting on two infertile eggs and a golf ball, I’m giving her two of her own fertile eggs that I had in my incubator tomorrow. This is my first time with a broody so I have a couple questions;
She’s living inside in a 4’X2’ cage with my cockerel, the boy in my avatar, does she need to be moved to a separate cage with the eggs? Or can she raise the chicks in the same cage as my boy? How long should I leave the chicks with her?
Any help would be appreciated!

 

[diamondsilkies]

I would move her, but if you just have those two and they are very bonded, I would try leaving them together unless he is aggressive towards the chicks.

Some hens will continue to mother their chicks even after they're all grown up, other hens will leave them as soon as they can. It just depends on your individual bird. The soonest she would leave them is probably about 6 weeks. Keep an eye on her, and if it seems like the mother bond has faded away, then you can separate them. If either she or the chicks seem distressed, move them back together. The other issue is if the chicks will become too big for the cage (depends on how many hatch).

 

[Bennythechick]

I would move her, but if you just have those two and they are very bonded, I would try leaving them together unless he is aggressive towards the chicks.

Some hens will continue to mother their chicks even after they're all grown up, other hens will leave them as soon as they can. It just depends on your individual bird. The soonest she would leave them is probably about 6 weeks. Keep an eye on her, and if it seems like the mother bond has faded away, then you can separate them. If either she or the chicks seem distressed, move them back together. The other issue is if the chicks will become too big for the cage (depends on how many hatch).

Ok I’ll probably separate them then. I just didn’t want to leave him alone if I didn’t have to. He is pretty protective of her, he has been sleeping in the nesting box with her lol! But I don’t know if I really want to risk him hurting the chicks.
I only have 4 fertile eggs from them so plan to give her two and hatch the other two in the incubator (since this is her first time being broody with me). Then hopefully will give her the other two chicks if they hatch.
Thank you for your help!

 

[Bennythechick]

This is them right now sleeping in the little nest box

 

[Bennythechick]

Ok so I tried to separate her today. She immediately became stressed and jumped off her eggs trying to get back to the cockerel. I opened to door to her cage which was in front of her old cage , where the cockerel is, and jumped back into the cage with him. So I moved her nest box back in there and I’m going to hope he doesn’t kill the chicks that are due to hatch in a week . If anyone else has any advive it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bennythechick]

Just wanted to update.
I successfully moved her to a separate cage Monday night and gave her the 2 fertile eggs. I checked the eggs today and unfortunately both died. Must have been to shocking for them to be moved to the incubator to under her. I did have one egg hatch in the incubator. I’m think about trying to get her to adopt it. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this?
Thanks in advance!

 

[LuvBantums]

Just wanted to update.
I successfully moved her to a separate cage Monday night and gave her the 2 fertile eggs. I checked the eggs today and unfortunately both died. Must have been to shocking for them to be moved to the incubator to under her. I did have one egg hatch in the incubator. I’m think about trying to get her to adopt it. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this?
Thanks in advance!

If she is still setting on the other eggs/golf ball and she is still broody, but if you put the baby with her... it could go either way. When we put chicks with a broody hen, she already has babies with her and it's easier for them to except another baby. Also, we do it while she isn't looking and slide it under her or kinda like a bait n switch. Also, you would have to really watch her to see if she takes it and the cockerel will except. I wouldn't do it with one baby.....but that's me. I fear she wouldn't except it and/or the cockerel. If she has been a mommy before, then I might.

 

[Bennythechick]

If she is still setting on the other eggs/golf ball and she is still broody, but if you put the baby with her... it could go either way. When we put chicks with a broody hen, she already has babies with her and it's easier for them to except another baby. Also, we do it while she isn't looking and slide it under her or kinda like a bait n switch. Also, you would have to really watch her to see if she takes it and the cockerel will except. I wouldn't do it with one baby.....but that's me. I fear she wouldn't except it and/or the cockerel. If she has been a mommy before, then I might.

I have had such bad luck with hatching seramas I would hate for her to not accept the baby. Ugh i might just end up putting it in the brooder then. I should hopefully have other seramas hatching within the next couple weeks. She is no longer with the cockerel so might have better luck. It just hatched and is still in the incubator so I still have a little bit to decide if I’m going to try to give it to her or not.
Thank you!

 

[LuvBantums]

I have had such bad luck with hatching seramas I would hate for her to not accept the baby. Ugh i might just end up putting it in the brooder then. I should hopefully have other seramas hatching within the next couple weeks. She is no longer with the cockerel so might have better luck. It just hatched and is still in the incubator so I still have a little bit to decide if I’m going to try to give it to her or not.
Thank you!

That's a great choice, since you only have that one. I just hatched bunches of Serama babies and I do it all year long. Where are you located? I can try and help with eggs....etc!

 

[Bennythechick]

That's a great choice, since you only have that one. I just hatched bunches of Serama babies and I do it all year long. Where are you located? I can try and help with eggs....etc!

I’m in New Hampshire