First time broody won't get off the nest with new chicks...what to do?

[Daisy8s]

I have a first-time broody hen. She was sitting on three eggs. One hatched yesterday (Saturday). One hatched this morning. At 6:00pm today I reached under and found a dead chick that I removed, along with any egg shells. So, she's sitting on nothing and has two chicks peeping at her.

The chick that hatched yesterday is acting very hungry. It is pecking at her eyes and eyelids and she, in turn, is pecking back at it to make it let go of her eyelid (understandably!).

I have chick starter right next to the nest and she's eaten a bit but she isn't showing it to the chicks and they aren't eating from it (that I've seen). They don't seem to know it is food. Due to size and configuration the water is just outside her nest enclosure but less than a foot away.

I have several other chickens, all of whom push around the broody as she is at the bottom of the pecking order. So, I made a separate brooding area for her nest that only she is small enough to go into and out of (she's a bantam, others are full size).

I am wondering if she is too frightened of the big birds to get off the nest with the chicks? In case this is the problem I've shut the coop door so the big hens cannot get into the coop for the rest of the day (they have shade and water elsewhere).

Or, does she not know it is time to get off the nest now? Although she makes soft chucking sounds to the chicks she still has that kind of glazed-eye broody look about her. She was getting off the nest once per day before the first chick hatched yesterday but I did not see her off the nest yesterday or today.

Suggestions? Is this normal? Should I break up her nesting area to make her leave it--except I had planned on her using it as a safe place to sleep at night with the chicks when everyone comes into the coop.

I'd appreciate advice from those experienced with broody hens and their chicks. Thanks!

 

[qldchook]

You do not need to worry yet. Chicks will be fine for at least 48-72 hours after hatching.. Give her as much privacy as possible from others, maybe hang some shade cloth towel something so she knows the big ones are there but cannot see them. She is giving her 2nd chick proper time to recover from hatching. Do not put food right next to her as then she does not have much incentive. Ensure water container is VERY shallow so chicks cannot drown.She may not get off until tomorrow morning.You may also be worrying her a bit. If she is not off in another 24hours you may need to do some gentle encouragement.
Was dead chick wet or dry? Was it completely out of egg?
Keep us informed.
Oh also, definately do not break up or change her area you will really stress her

 

[Daisy8s]

Thanks for the advice. The dead chick was wet and curled up like it was still inside the egg, except it was completely out. It was like the shell had been removed from it around it. It looked completely developed--even had a bit of a comb. I did notice that the chick was still attached by its umbilical cord to a bit of shell. It was bloody around that area. I wondered if the chick was accidentally smothered during hatching because it was at the very bottom of the nest when I reached in.

I'll definitely leave them alone. I'm worried about hanging up a towel because the air flow is not great anyway (she's on the floor of the coop). I can shut the pop door, though, to keep the other chickens out of the coop.

The water is specifically for chicks.

What do you think about the chick pecking at the mother's eyelid? That looked so brutal and clearly bothered her since she pecked back at it.

 

[qldchook]

It is so funny you mention the eye picking thing,My recent batch which I sat back & watched for ages did this all the time. The first two chicks out pecked at hens eyes, I think it is because they are shiny. She never pecked them back, but did kind of push them with her beak & try to distract them. I think it is the oldest ones being adventurous with whatever they have (mum's face!). She certainly should not be pecking them hard, I am sure she is not.
Re privacy; You could hang some shade cloth or mosquito netting which won't stop air flow but if they are seperated should be fine. She definately will not want the others having immediate access to her chicks.
In the begining she may only take them off for multiple 10 minute periods throughout the day & then take them back to bed or sit on them in another area, she knows they need to rest often.. I am usually wanting to feed my hen up after her long brood so I usually offer a hard boiled egg at least every 2nd day, very finely chopped. Obviously access to chick starter is there all day but your hen will love the boiled egg & it is fine for the little ones.
My little cochin (mix?) below is only 7months old & hatched out her own 4 & then stole the 5 (all her eggs anyway) that I had incubated.She now looks after 9 chicks and free ranges with 5 other hens & the rooster. She is a 1st time mum & she is brilliant.

With the time difference (in OZ) it is 7pm on Monday July 16th/ so I look forward to hearing how everything is going tomorrow.

 

[Daisy8s]

I guess I forgot to mention that when I created her separate area I used chicken wire so the other hens could not pester her while she was sitting on the eggs. The entrance to her little area is very small since she's my only bantam so only she can go in and out of it. So, yes, she is safe, though I don't know if she fully knows that since she growls at other hens if they come near the chicken wire.

My son just told me that she has now moved off her nest to go to the back of her small area (about 1x2 feet) so maybe that's the first step. I'm now going out to shut the pop door for a few hours and leave the hard boiled egg just outside her area, next to the water, to entice her to bring the chicks to the water. Thanks for the tip--I know she loves hard boiled eggs. Should've thought of that myself!

When you say OZ---where exactly is that? I have a vague memory that that may be shorthand for Australia? I spent 5 months in Papua New Guinea about 15 years ago, teaching school there. All my fellow teachers were either Aussie, NZ, or British. Best teachers I've ever met--put our entire American teacher training system to shame. I brought back lots of their strategies and was such a novelty that my boss had me conduct trainings for teachers with many more years experience than I had.

 

[qldchook]

Hi, sorry re OZ. Yes I am in Cairns Qld Aust. Most of the chicken issues I have are different (pythons, goannas etc) but a broody hen is a broody hen. Sounds like she is moving them around thats great. It is very likely they had a quick drink as soon as they got off. So funny you mentioned PNG, that is where I grew up and did all my schooling in the International Schools and yes we were blessed with brilliant teachers. As soon as she)hen) is more relaxed you'll have to post some pics. Looking forward to update.

 

[NovaAman]

Make sure the chicks do not have to go up a ramp yet... I had a mama hen have her chicks out with her with in a matter of days of hatching. Freaked me out! I couldn't believe it. I ended up putting her nest box down every day just near the ramp, and she was a smart cookie. Her and her 3 babies would go in it every nite, and every nite I'd pick it up and set it back in the coop. After about a week of that though, they figured out how to get up the ramp. It was so cool.

Anyway, glad your hen proved to be what she's meant to be. Now next time, you can relax a bit more. Just be prepared, some hens are crazy and go broody a lot. If she proves to be a good mom that's cool. BUT, if she goes broody to soon, you may need to break her of it unless your willing to supply her hi-protein meals to keep her weight up while she's in the nest. I do. I don't bother to break them, but I do limit how many eggs they get to have so I don't have to many chicks. This year already, we have had 21 chicks hatched out by 3 broodies, each already doing 2 rounds. One sitting on one egg right now. Her other eggs didn't develope, but she's a vicious mama, so her lone chick will be just fine. WHICH reminds me, she is going to need her own space again here in the nest day or so. Good thing she's the only one right now. My broody coops are both open for business.

 

[NovaAman]

It is so funny you mention the eye picking thing,My recent batch which I sat back & watched for ages did this all the time. The first two chicks out pecked at hens eyes, I think it is because they are shiny. She never pecked them back, but did kind of push them with her beak & try to distract them. I think it is the oldest ones being adventurous with whatever they have (mum's face!). She certainly should not be pecking them hard, I am sure she is not.
Re privacy; You could hang some shade cloth or mosquito netting which won't stop air flow but if they are seperated should be fine. She definately will not want the others having immediate access to her chicks.
In the begining she may only take them off for multiple 10 minute periods throughout the day & then take them back to bed or sit on them in another area, she knows they need to rest often.. I am usually wanting to feed my hen up after her long brood so I usually offer a hard boiled egg at least every 2nd day, very finely chopped. Obviously access to chick starter is there all day but your hen will love the boiled egg & it is fine for the little ones.
My little cochin (mix?) below is only 7months old & hatched out her own 4 & then stole the 5 (all her eggs anyway) that I had incubated.She now looks after 9 chicks and free ranges with 5 other hens & the rooster. She is a 1st time mum & she is brilliant.

With the time difference (in OZ) it is 7pm on Monday July 16th/ so I look forward to hearing how everything is going tomorrow.

What are they? they are so darn adorable. I love the grey/silverish ones.

 

[Judy]

duplicate

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/689208/broody-wont-get-off-the-nest-with-new-chicks-what-to-do