Quote:i have a quick question with regards to my current broody. The mom has been an absolute trooper so far, sitting through huge thunderstorms and heavy rain (under cover of course).
She has been sitting on her eggs for two weeks now, so if the chicks hatch they will be due next weekend. Our electricity isnt stable enough for me to have an incubator or broody box with a light, so i am letting the broody do it all I moved her down from the egg box before i put fertilised eggs under her, to underneath another coop i built, will post pics later.
I built a run attached to this coop for a couple of baby self blues a while ago.
I am planning on moving the self blues out, and locking the new momma and babies into the new run and coop. Apart from the obvious considerations (Water and food safety for the new chicks) is there anything else i need to consider for my first time mom and her chicks? I would assume that if I let her raise them that she would do a better job then me.
It is the middle of summer here. What about pasty butt or bullying? Is it best to section her and her chicks off for a few weeks?
I know that chickens coped fine without humans interfering, but I would hate to disappoint her by leaving something out, and want to give her the best chance possible of raising the chicks. These are my first chickens, and the mom's first chicks, and i want to get it right.
Andy
Actually you could probably do a better job raising them, hens can't be beat for incubating, but humans usually do much better raising them. If you do leave them with her, I'd keep her locked away from the flock, except for the rooster - they are usually very good with babies. First time mamas don't always know how to protect their young.
