First time hatching chicks

[Slothinc]

Our weather is cooling down a bit this week, I am worried it’s going to be too cold for the 6.5 week olds.

But my bielefelder hen is the same size as some of my full grown hens now. I feel bad leaving her in the brooder. Should I try integrating her on her own or make her wait another week in the brooder?

I’ve been giving them field trips into the run with the hens. Keeping them in a dog crate in the run during the day for a little while in the afternoon so they can get used to each other.

If she still gets along with the littles in the brooder, I would keep them together. I think it will be an easier transition. I personally don’t love integrating a single chicken into a flock, but I know some people do it successfully. I think what you are doing with their field trips is great!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

If she still gets along with the littles in the brooder, I would keep them together. I think it will be an easier transition. I personally don’t love integrating a single chicken into a flock, but I know some people do it successfully. I think what you are doing with their field trips is great!

Ok, sounds good. The 4 chicks seem to really want the 2.5 month old to stay with them anyway lol. They were loudly chirping waiting for her to come back from the field trip yesterday when I put them back in the brooder a few minutes before her lol!

When I do integrate them all, can I just give all of them grower feed? Including my full grown hens.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

@Slothinc here is the chick you helped me assist. She’s doing so great, I can’t believe it. Had to show you a pic, I don’t think she’d be here if it weren’t for your help. Thank you!

 

[Slothinc]

@Slothinc here is the chick you helped me assist. She’s doing so great, I can’t believe it. Had to show you a pic, I don’t think she’d be here if it weren’t for your help. Thank you!

What a darling baby!!! I am so glad she’s doing well and that you were able to save her! You did so great, and now next time it won’t be quite so stressful with a chick needs help!

I usually put grower feed in one feeder and keep my layer feed in the hens feeder - it is kind of impossible to keep them from eating each others food once they are integrated. You could put grower or all flock in your hens feeder if you are worried about it - just be sure to offer calcium to them if you do that!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Hello all! You all have been helpful so updating/seeking advice!

Currently incubating some eggs for a friend, I have two broody hens, one I don’t trust, the other is very sweet, kind to the other hens, and has been brooding for going on two months. So, (with permission), I slipped a few of the eggs under her too. I’ve since read horror stories of mama hens killing babies…. Should I be worried?

Also, those of you with marans, have I any hope that these are pullets? I will say the combs are looking more pink on camera than they do in person, the pink is the same colour as their feet. No wattles really yet and no copper specks. The two blue marans that hatched have pink wattles and much bigger combs, and they have copper streaks on their necks. So, in comparison to those two I have hope. But the combs on these two pictures are still bigger than the two marans I have in my current flock had at even 8/9 weeks old…. These chicks are all 5 weeks old now. I will say though that my current marans hens have quite small combs even as adults, smaller than many other marans I’ve seen.

 

[Slothinc]

Hello all! You all have been helpful so updating/seeking advice!

Currently incubating some eggs for a friend, I have two broody hens, one I don’t trust, the other is very sweet, kind to the other hens, and has been brooding for going on two months. So, (with permission), I slipped a few of the eggs under her too. I’ve since read horror stories of mama hens killing babies…. Should I be worried?

Also, those of you with marans, have I any hope that these are pullets? I will say the combs are looking more pink on camera than they do in person, the pink is the same colour as their feet. No wattles really yet and no copper specks. The two blue marans that hatched have pink wattles and much bigger combs, and they have copper streaks on their necks. So, in comparison to those two I have hope. But the combs on these two pictures are still bigger than the two marans I have in my current flock had at even 8/9 weeks old…. These chicks are all 5 weeks old now. I will say though that my current marans hens have quite small combs even as adults, smaller than many other marans I’ve seen.

I personally wouldn’t be worried about mama killing her babies. I don’t think it is a super common occurrence. I did have one horrible mother once who left her babies several days after hatch and they died. It was awful. But I really think that those kinds of things aren’t common. Are you planning to let your broody raise the babies that she hatches?

And I would be suspicious of the marans. However I am not sure that they are roos, it seems possible they could be quickly developing girls. Maybe someone with more marans experience will be able to give a better idea!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I personally wouldn’t be worried about mama killing her babies. I don’t think it is a super common occurrence. I did have one horrible mother once who left her babies several days after hatch and they died. It was awful. But I really think that those kinds of things aren’t common. Are you planning to let your broody raise the babies that she hatches?

And I would be suspicious of the marans. However I am not sure that they are roos, it seems possible they could be quickly developing girls. Maybe someone with more marans experience will be able to give a better idea!

I want to let her, I’m a little worried that the chicks may get attacked though…. What do you think?

I think they may actually be hens? Over 5 weeks now. No copper flecks coming through and the combs haven’t grown.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

The blue marans are definitely roosters!

 

[Slothinc]

I want to let her, I’m a little worried that the chicks may get attacked though…. What do you think?

I think they may actually be hens? Over 5 weeks now. No copper flecks coming through and the combs haven’t grown.

Are you worried about them being attacked by their own mother or by other flock members? I would say both scenarios are very unlikely. Since my experience with the one broody who abandoned her babies a few days after hatch, now I lock them in an enclosed space in my coop that I built for broody mamas, and keep it closed for about the first week to make sure that everyone is bonded before I start letting them out.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hello all! You all have been helpful so updating/seeking advice!

Currently incubating some eggs for a friend, I have two broody hens, one I don’t trust, the other is very sweet, kind to the other hens, and has been brooding for going on two months. So, (with permission), I slipped a few of the eggs under her too. I’ve since read horror stories of mama hens killing babies…. Should I be worried?

Also, those of you with marans, have I any hope that these are pullets? I will say the combs are looking more pink on camera than they do in person, the pink is the same colour as their feet. No wattles really yet and no copper specks. The two blue marans that hatched have pink wattles and much bigger combs, and they have copper streaks on their necks. So, in comparison to those two I have hope. But the combs on these two pictures are still bigger than the two marans I have in my current flock had at even 8/9 weeks old…. These chicks are all 5 weeks old now. I will say though that my current marans hens have quite small combs even as adults, smaller than many other marans I’ve seen.

These look to be females.