Happy Autumn! Unexpected babies today....

[crowmama]

So this is a thing today!

One of my daughter's hens, was hiding, and brooding...
We found her/them this morning ~ 14 so far

What's the biggest hatch you all have seen survive with a hen?

We got her in a secure coop alone, with babies.
Chick feed, and plenty of water for her, and them.

Optional heat lamp we can turn on, if our weather turns for the worst. t'll help keep the cold out (coop is attached to our non-insulated barn wall)

Wish us luck!

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh my goodness! That first picture with the little heads sticking out, it doesn't get any cuter than that!

They don't need heat or heat lamp no matter how cold it gets. Well, within reason anyway. Mom will keep them warm, and when they scuttle about getting food and water, if they get chilled, they run back under mom.

 

[crowmama]

Oh my goodness! That first picture with the little heads sticking out, it doesn't get any cuter than that!

They don't need heat or heat lamp no matter how cold it gets. Well, within reason anyway. Mom will keep them warm, and when they scuttle about getting food and water, if they get chilled, they run back under mom.

Thank you! Appreciate the info, we've only ever had brooder chicks in the Spring/Summer, so that is good to know

 

[BDutch]

Yes Debbie is right. Sooo cute and never put a heat lamp above a broody with chicks. If it gets freezing cold in the barn I would prefer a safe radiator. Because if its very cold, the chicks get very little exercise. I hope you have a window for a little sunlight in the barn.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Super awesome surprise!! They are adorable and mum looks like a proud healthy mama!
Beautiful absolutely beautiful.

 

[crowmama]

Thank you again for the feedback!

It's a two section coop, with a little outdoor area.

The heat lamp is in another area, my sister had used it for raising ducklings at one point.

We definitely won't use the heat lamp, unless Mom decides to bail on them (our last broody lasted just about 30 days), and we get an early Winter or something extreme like that.

I'm excited to check on them tomorrow for a final chick count, and hopefully get a new pic of them all if Mom will allow it

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thank you again for the feedback!

It's a two section coop, with a little outdoor area.

The heat lamp is in another area, my sister had used it for raising ducklings at one point.

We definitely won't use the heat lamp, unless Mom decides to bail on them (our last broody lasted just about 30 days), and we get an early Winter or something extreme like that.

I'm excited to check on them tomorrow for a final chick count, and hopefully get a new pic of them all if Mom will allow it

Congrats on the chicks they are adorable! I just wanted to add that a broody staying with her chicks for 4 weeks isn’t bailing at all it’s actually pretty average for a hen to start to push chicks away starting at that time frame and at 4 weeks they are feathered enough to not need heat. A broody’s only job is to keep them warm until they are feathered and to show them how to be a chicken (find food, find water etc.). If she does that she’s a good broody.

 

[crowmama]

Congrats on the chicks they are adorable!

Thank you, I personally haven't personally ever had a broody, or much experience raising chicks with or without one.

I have 9 white rock hens, and a Chochin that were raised as day olds with a heat lamp and all that...

The last ones that were hatched here naturally, were in in Summer, many years ago -
and my Mother thought that broody was attacking them, after the month was up, and "bailing" on them... hence my wording.

The current broody - My daughter (19 y/o works away at fire all Summer, and still for another week) incubated this flock in Feb,

So, I'm still learning!! Thankful for any knowledge moving forward

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Adorable chicks!

 

[BDutch]

Congrats on the chicks they are adorable! I just wanted to add that a broody staying with her chicks for 4 weeks isn’t bailing at all it’s actually pretty average for a hen to start to push chicks away starting at that time frame and at 4 weeks they are feathered enough to not need heat. A broody’s only job is to keep them warm until they are feathered and to show them how to be a chicken (find food, find water etc.). If she does that she’s a good broody.

4 weeks is certainly not average.
Mine are probably the opposite. I have 2 momma’s for 3 chicks and after 14 weeks they are still mothering a bit.
They all sleep together in another connected coop as the other 4 hens.

My guts say the average is probably around 8 weeks /after the chicks start to roost.