Eggs are hatching...urgent question

[Chicken D's mom]

My Japanese Bantam, Suzie successfully hatched out some chicks this morning. We don't know how many there are, she won't leave the nest.

She is in a small tractor with a heat lamp, and my Rooster Chicken D is roosting above watching over them. It is cold here today, low 20's and snowing.

My daughter is afraid my rooster will kill the babies and thinks we should bring Suzie and all inside where it warm.

I think they will be fine in the nest because Chicken D is very gentle and was extremely protective of the eggs while Suzie was laying them.

It would be warmer and fun to have them inside, but I don't want to isolate Chicken D. I think he would be meaner to the babies when they are introduced back to the coop if I take them away now.

What do you all think?

 

[dianneS]

No, the rooster will not kill the babies.

Don't bring her inside. If she's not finished hatching the eggs, moving her could upset her and she could abandon the whole nest, chicks and all.

If she's got a heat lamp she will be just fine. I've had hens hatch in 20 degree weather with no heat lamps and the chicks were fine. Even after leaving the nest the chicks were fine in the cold. Mom knows to keep them under her wings for warmth or sit on them once in a while to warm them up. Just don't let them go free range until its much warmer outside. In the coop, they will be fine.


Just let nature take its course, don't interfere. Roosters rarely bother with chicks that have a hen to protect them, even if the chicks aren't hatched in the coop. But having him watching over the whole thing is certainly better.

Moving her at this stage of the game could mess everything up. Just leave her be.

 

[Chicken D's mom]

Thank you for the advice. I thought, too that it's best not to interfere. They'll be just fine.