EMERGENCY! Baby chick found in coop on the floor, barely alive! UPDATE

[77horses]

Quote:
That's what I thought. But my sister thought of the name, so she gets the credit!

UPDATE: Since there are about 3 eggs that should be pipping anytime soon ow under Pumpkin the broody hen, we put up a temporary wall of mesh wire around the two coops with the broody hens in them and put Hope outside with Pumpkin for today. The other chickens are outside free ranging, so they won't bother them. Both Hope and Pumpkin seem to be bonding well...But if none of the babies hatch by tonight we will bring Hope back inside. If they do hatch, then that's another story. We are still undecided to whether Pumpkin can defend her chicks when they hatch if another hen in the coop decides to attack them. For now they're safe inside the sectioned-off area around the nest boxes, but when they start exploring with the other chickens, that's what I'm worried about.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[NellaBean]

Every flock is different..I have 3 broody hens sharing 3 chicks. The other chickens don't even seem to notice the babies......either they just don't care or they know better than to bother them. They are completely ignored by my other chickens/roosters. The broodies will defend them ferociously from my dogs.......but the other chickens don't see to care. I have left them mixed into my flock since they hatched. As an example here they are at the chick waterer. The two white hens and 1 barred hen are the moms.....blue rooster to the left with salmon fav hen behind him....another barred hen behind the whole group. The moms will chase off anyone they don't want near the babies, but for the most part my flock ignored the babies. One momma hen not only chased one of my dogs 10 feet but also jumped on her back flapping and squawking. Good broody moms don't mess around when it comes to protecting their babies.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Thanks for sharing! I guess Pumpkin may be a good brooder hen, but maybe she's not the best broody momma hen.

Your chickens are beautiful, btw! Look how happy they all look together! I just hope ours will except the new chicks in the flock like yours do. We have some younger pullets who are trouble makers, and that's also what I'm worried about. Pumpkin lives in a flock of 6 other chickens; a Splash Cochin rooster, Foghorn, a big BO hen, Setherina, a black Ameraucana hen, Raven, a young Splash Cochin/BO pullet, Peanut, and of course the two broodies, Pumpkin herself and Oreo. The rooster and BO hen are older and know better than to pick on the baby chicks, but the younger of them all, Raven and Peanut are the two trouble makers who like to be bossy and mean to newcomers. In fact I think Peanut may have been the culprit who almost killed Hope by invading Pumpkin's nest because I've seen her try and do it before.

The younger pullets aren't mature enough to know to leave the little baby chicks alone!

Other than those two pullets, the other older chickens will leave the babies alone, I think.

 

[77horses]

UPDATE: Hope stayed outside all night last night with Pumpkin and she's OK because she stayed nice and warm under Pumpkin.

None of the other eggs have hatched yet, but one has pipped and should be zipping soon. One or two others are still peeping but haven't pipped. Hope and the chicks that haven't hatched yet keep peeping to each other and I think she's peeping to encourage them to hatch out!

Also, I gave all of the chickens some cooked egg today and Hope ate some of it. When I gave some to Pumpkin, she made loud clucking sounds and held the piece in her beak for Hope to eat it.

Hopefully some more eggs will hatch soon so Hope won't be alone anymore!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

That's great 77horses!!!!
I was keeping my fingers crossed for Hope!

 

[77horses]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

That's great 77horses!!!!
I was keeping my fingers crossed for Hope!

Thanks!!!

UPDATE: One egg just hatched and another is zipping right now!

So now little Hope isn't alone anymore! She's snuggled under with her new sibling (who looks just like her!) and the 3rd one is peeping and trying to get out.

They all came from the same parents (all from blue eggs) so they all look almost exactly alike!

How can we tell them apart once they're all dry and fluffy???​

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

You can put a legband on their leg, or you can get a non-toxic marker and put a mark on their back or something.

 

[77horses]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

You can put a legband on their leg, or you can get a non-toxic marker and put a mark on their back or something.

What markers would count as non-toxic? Sharpie markers obviously wouldn't work, right?
I wish I had some legbands, but I don't at the moment so those wouldn't work. Is there a way I can make some with masking tape or something?
Thanks!

 

[77horses]

Update: All 3 babies are out now!!!

Their names are Hope, May, and June!

Hope is the one who we rescued, May is the fluffiest one, and June is the 3rd one to hatch and looks like she's going to be the darkest one.

But other than that they all look the same and it's so adorable to see all 3 of them together snuggled under Pumpkin!

Thanks everyone for all the help! I'm so glad Hope made it and now she has some friends, too!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

How can you say you have 3 adorably cute chicks and NOT POST PICTURES OF THEM??????