hatching--new baby help

[amandabo]

I let my momma hen brood three eggs and they hatched today. should I go ahead and take them from her or will she be able to take care of them herself? I am afraid my other chickens might hurt them.

 

[greyartist]

I think a hen will care for them very well. She should keep them safe, I've seen hens run other chickens away when they get to close.

You could move the hen and chicks to a separate area but I would leave them with her.

 

[amandabo]

for how long? can you tell I am really new to this? One of them fell out of the next box and thankfully my husband found it before it stayed there to long. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[babsbag]

I moved my broody into my house

This weekend I am going to build her a cage in the run where she can have her chicks on the ground level, be safe from the other chickens, and yet everyone can see each other. I will probably leave them in there for 2 or 3 weeks. I am worried about my goats stepping on the chicks when they free range together.

 

[greyartist]

I have lost allot of chicks from them falling out of the nest and not being able to get back up or going through the fence and something getting them. Of the 7 years I've had chickens only about 5 chicks have made it. Thats why this year we built a special pen to move hens with chicks to until they are too big for hawks to fly off with. I'm not sure if it is good to move her before she hatches or after. But if you have a safe place to put her that would be great.

BABSBAG- you mean your house???? in a bird cage or something? wow.

 

[gumpsgirl]

She will provide much better care than you will ever be able to! I LOVE my mamma hens! They do all of the work and I truly feel that the chicks grow up stronger and healthier when raised by their mamma. We can only provide an environment in which we hope meets their needs, but the mamma hen (better known as a broody) knows what they need and will provide it. Every once in awhile the mamma will reject a baby, but it's not very often and they seem so much more content on being with their mamma's rather than in a brooder.

So sit back and watch mother nature as she takes control and tells that mamma hen of yours what to do after you move them to a location on the ground where they will be safe.

They are amazing to watch!