Chucks with the flock

[Judy318]

We have 12 RIR and a rooster. One of the girls hatched 2 babies about 4 days ago. I read on here to let them stay with mama in the flock. Early this afternoon we found the babies dead. They were fine this morning. Any suggestions on separating them? She sat on the eggs up in the rafters until they hatched, then brought them to nest boxes, then to the floor. We provided starter and a small water. Mama hen did show them how to drink. I'm very sad for her. Will she try again?

 

[azygous]

Your instincts are telling you that mama hen could have used a little help by your moving her and her two hatchlings to a safe location away from the flock. Many times chicks are killed by simple curiosity, pecking them on the head to see what they are.

That happened to one of my chicks a few years back when the rooster pecked it on the head, resulting in a complete scalping. Luckily, I saved her. But this happens enough that most of us take precautions and separate a broody just before the eggs are due to hatch.

 

[Judy318]

Thanks for the feedback. We weren't even sure the eggs would hatch. We were pleasantly surprised when they did. This broody hen was doing great chasing the others off. Devising a separater for the next time. I hope she tries again.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We have 12 RIR and a rooster. One of the girls hatched 2 babies about 4 days ago. I read on here to let them stay with mama in the flock. Early this afternoon we found the babies dead. They were fine this morning. Any suggestions on separating them? She sat on the eggs up in the rafters until they hatched, then brought them to nest boxes, then to the floor. We provided starter and a small water. Mama hen did show them how to drink. I'm very sad for her. Will she try again?

May I ask how many eggs your RIR sat on? Was it only 2 eggs or more than 2?

Hens set because of the interactions of natural hormones. They have no more say in whether they lay eggs or not than a rooster has in whether he crows at dawn

 

[Judy318]

May I ask how many eggs your RIR sat on?  Was it only 2 eggs or more than 2?

 

Hens set because of the interactions of natural hormones.  They have no more say in whether they lay eggs or not than a rooster has in whether he crows at dawn

she sat on at least 8. There was a 3rd that started to hatch, but she ignored it after the 2 chicks were born.