Do Chickens Get Married?

[BigBlueHen53]

Kids just got to see a problem with imprinting on a nest site. Just minutes ago we walked the yard with dogs putting birds up for the night. Love Heart's single chick was crying cold and alone on the ground below the nest it's mother was in. Mother is imprinted on nest site and confused about what to do with chick. If we did not intervene, chick would be dead before midnight. Tomorrow we will lower lest and remove cereal box cover so chick can get in. After a couple weeks my daughter will be tasked with raising the nest back up incrementally. We do not have this problem as often when hens nest on ground.

I love it that Love Heart's "mommy" (your DD) is having this opportunity to see problems develop in nature (kind of as a result of human intervention, actually), and then also seeing how to problem-solve to get things back on track. Would be nice if she were to become a rehabilitator of wild things at some point in her future as a result of interest generated by these sorts of experiments in her youth. You don't mention your DS very often, is he still engaged in the experiment?

 

[centrarchid]

My son is more into incubator operation and studying mice in the barn. He is building nesting habitat enabling him to see babies without dogs eating them. He goes to barn multiple times daily to check on mice and collect eggs.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My son is more into incubator operation and studying mice in the barn. He is building nesting habitat enabling him to see babies without dogs eating them. He goes to barn multiple times daily to check on mice and collect eggs.

Cool!

 

[centrarchid]

I had pleasure of directing my son for first time by phone how to deal with a problem. He did very well.

 

[centrarchid]

Kids rescued biddie twice this evening. Hen went back into box, again chick could not get in. One kid raised pen and other placed chick into nest with mother. Chick bailed so has to repeat.

Son noted rooster Trace likes the chick. Hen takes chick with her over to Trace's pen where chick goes in to eat right next to daddies head. Trace bonding with chick. He would make a good daddy bird if able to walk with Lover Heart and chick. I may give him chance to broody once chick about 2 weeks post-hatch.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Kids rescued biddie twice this evening. Hen went back into box, again chick could not get in. One kid raised pen and other placed chick into nest with mother. Chick bailed so has to repeat.

Son noted rooster Trace likes the chick. Hen takes chick with her over to Trace's pen where chick goes in to eat right next to daddies head. Trace bonding with chick. He would make a good daddy bird if able to walk with Lover Heart and chick. I may give him chance to broody once chick about 2 weeks post-hatch.

Any way to fix it so chick does not keep getting left out? Worried here! Rooster is not the only one bonding to this chick!

 

[centrarchid]

For now kids will need to put chick up. They need to learn how to negotiate with broody game hens. We are about to go through a spell of cold wet weather where hen and chick need to roost up. We may even pen them to keep off wet ground for a few days.

 

[aart]

Kids rescued biddie twice this evening. Hen went back into box, again chick could not get in. One kid raised pen and other placed chick into nest with mother. Chick bailed so has to repeat.

Is this the nest that's 'way' up in the air?
Has any chick made it back into that nest?

 

[centrarchid]

Is this the nest that's 'way' up in the air?
Has any chick made it back into that nest?

Yes for first.
No for second.

For now kids have responsibility of making certain chick gets into nest with hen. They will be tasked with that responsibility for about two weeks until chick can fly 3 feet up. Kids will be encouraged to devise methods for chick to get up on its own. Last year I did similar with another brood where hen (also Love Heart) and chicks started to look me up at roost time, sometimes going to house to find me. Some chickens smart.

Next iteration on nest we will be lowering at hatch. You saw that nest with the little piece of tin for a roof. A couple more nest of similar design will be placed in other locations where attachments to post will allow easier raising and lower of nest without using bungie cords. I want hens roosting with broods spread out at night to reduce conflicts. One must remember these are game hens and they are able to move about where they want. They have issues when wanting same things.

 

[centrarchid]

Link below to prototype design to be used later around yard. I am using similar in lab where hens use them through hatch. Those in lab indoors and part of actual experiment where weather not an issue. Low front makes so hen does not have to jump down on eggs when entering nest. Low front will be blocked at hatching time to keep chicks from coming out of nest prematurely. Version currently on floor with Blue has front too high even when cut down for chicks to readily get in. Son will fix that problem for when nest on flat surface. In grass, it is much easier for chicks to get in.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ing-easier-from-window.1364258/#post-22480129