Broody with no babies, what to do with her?

[Morrigan]

Good luck! Gentle pecks by a broody can be a way of disciplining chicks "hey, you, what are you doing wandering away?" My current broody pecked her adopted chicks (gently) quite a lot when I first gave them to her. In her case, I honestly thought she was confused about where all these guys came from. She settled down after a few hours and is now an excellent mother.

But, if she pecks them hard and begins hissing at them or chasing them away, that means she's rejecting them and you will need to brood them yourself.

 

[Ladybird CA]

having a bit of a busy morning but know if it was mentioned, eggs should be candled weekly and ones without chicks or dead chicks (black dot thats not moving/no veins or black veins) should be removed

 

[MizzClucker]

So she seems better with yellow one (my son named him coffee cup) but it’s a lot more spunky. Runs and jumps on her before she can even peck him. The brown one seems to have trouble walking, maybe balance related? Maybe he has sspraddle leg? But both are eating and drinking but I have to go down every couple hours to lift her and bring them to the food and water as she seems to be stuck in egg mode. How often do they need to eat and drink?

 

[Morrigan]

Could you just arrange things so that the food and water is close enough so they can get to them on their own?

All of my broody hens have stayed on the nest for 1 to 2 days after hatching (or after I have given her foster chicks), so it's normal that yours doesn't want to move out quite yet. For hens hatching out eggs, it's not a problem because new born chick can go 3 days without food or water, but when you introduce foster chicks that are already a couple of days old, I like to make sure they have ready access to eat and drink.

Sorry to hear that you got a chick that's not doing great. Do you have any Nutri-Drench -- it's a poultry vitamin sold at most feed stores, that you add to their water. Sometimes that can really help a struggling chick. Even if the brown one doesn't make it, a single chick with a broody hen isn't a huge deal, as momma hen will keep the chick company.

Below is a picture of a broody I had with a single chick. "Loner chick" as I call her now had a bit rougher time integrating into the flock as she didn't have any hatch-mates but she got there and is now going great. Just collected an egg she laid this morning in fact. From the picture, you can see how I have water nearby. I simply threw a handful of chick feed right into the nest box itself.

 

[Morrigan]

So she seems better with yellow one (my son named him coffee cup) but it’s a lot more spunky. Runs and jumps on her before she can even peck him. The brown one seems to have trouble walking, maybe balance related? Maybe he has sspraddle leg? But both are eating and drinking but I have to go down every couple hours to lift her and bring them to the food and water as she seems to be stuck in egg mode. How often do they need to eat and drink?

Meant to add -- Coffee Cup is a cutie.

 

[MizzClucker]

Could you just arrange things so that the food and water is close enough so they can get to them on their own?

All of my broody hens have stayed on the nest for 1 to 2 days after hatching (or after I have given her foster chicks), so it's normal that yours doesn't want to move out quite yet. For hens hatching out eggs, it's not a problem because new born chick can go 3 days without food or water, but when you introduce foster chicks that are already a couple of days old, I like to make sure they have ready access to eat and drink.

Sorry to hear that you got a chick that's not doing great. Do you have any Nutri-Drench -- it's a poultry vitamin sold at most feed stores, that you add to their water. Sometimes that can really help a struggling chick. Even if the brown one doesn't make it, a single chick with a broody hen isn't a huge deal, as momma hen will keep the chick company.

Below is a picture of a broody I had with a single chick. "Loner chick" as I call her now had a bit rougher time integrating into the flock as she didn't have any hatch-mates but she got there and is now going great. Just collected an egg she laid this morning in fact. From the picture, you can see how I have water nearby. I simply threw a handful of chick feed right into the nest box itself.

View attachment 1523920

Yes, I had put an electrolyte in the water already. I had some left from my 6 spring chicks we brooded this year. The food and water was within reach for them I was just concerned about her not letting them back under to keep warm. Especially since our daytime highs have been only 10*C.

 

[MizzClucker]

Update - they are doing so well, even the brown one. She has adopted them completely and the brown one can make it around the kennel, but still wobbly and falls. They are both meandering over to the food and water then running back to broody and burying under for warmth. I bought chicken wire today so we can repair the old run so they have more room than the dog kennel and they will be safe from the cats and the hawks. Also, they can escape between the bars of the kennel.

 

[MizzClucker]

 

[Morrigan]

Update - they are doing so well, even the brown one. She has adopted them completely and the brown one can make it around the kennel, but still wobbly and falls. They are both meandering over to the food and water then running back to broody and burying under for warmth. I bought chicken wire today so we can repair the old run so they have more room than the dog kennel and they will be safe from the cats and the hawks. Also, they can escape between the bars of the kennel.

Excellent news! I'm so glad it worked out for you. Momma hen looks so proud of her chicks.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

How awesome! A beautiful momma with her beautiful chicks.