Hatching with 2 broodies

[Carrie54452002]

G'Day Team Broody!

Not a very happy bit of news today .. Britney is losing the fight; I will be surprised if she makes it through the night; I'm already blubbering at the thought of losing my little wrecking-ball! It turns out she is internal laying for which there is no cure

I know what I should do but I just can't do it; no way!

Anyway, I know she had a fun filled time with me and I am really going to try and not make her memory a sad one.

So, in answer to Carrie's question; I agree totally with Liz, 16Paws and TG! For the first couple of weeks Cilla could easily have gone on a free range and left her bubbies but she didn't; she stayed with them the whole time. Now they have worked out how to get down the ramp and after much coaching from Cilla and me over many nights, back up again!
At the bottom of the ramp is a nice scratching and dust-bathing spot so they don't need to go far from their 'ranch'. I do not let them out unless I am home to supervise any possible aerial attacks from Mr Crow; mind you, the rate they are growing, he would be hard pressed to take one!
Dusty has started to show some interest when they are all out together but as the girls have said, Cilla is doing a good job of letting her know to 'step away from the babies'!

With regards taking mumma away and the cold; I probably wouldn't go down that path. Even at nearly 3 weeks old Cilla's bubbies still cuddle up under her every night and we don't have anywhere near the low temperatures you are experiencing; we are in our spring and the nights are humid. As TG mentioned, mumma knows best and I am letting Cilla lead me as to any decisions I make. At present, they get probably 1.5 hours in the afternoon each day when they are out and about.

Dusty is probably going to be on her own soon so I am thinking that this weekend will be the time to move the 'ranch' and incorporate it into the existing covered run which means all day scratching and dust-bathing and the bonus of added company for Dusty. As Liz mentioned, we have also had some minor pecking when one of the bubbies strays too close to Dusty but nothing that I am too worried about.

Luv the pictures Liz .. your cat and dog are gorgeous!

So sorry Teila I have had to have my husband do the "Unthinkable" and I sat there and cried on the couch while he did it. I am so sorry for yur impending loss, I know it is a chicken but to me, you and a lot of other people they are pets first and foremost so again HUGS!!

What liz saidVVVVVVV

and what 16 paws said too VVVV

And I would just add that in my case, the pen in which my mama hatched her chicks is with the other big girls and a roo. They don't mess with her or the babies. It is not predator proof though the coop is. When the chicks got more adventurous I got more nervous that they would leave the coop for the pen, get out of the pen and get snatched by a raptor so during the day we have moved them into a day pen which is predator proof and has a roof and in the evenings we stick them all back in the coop with everyone else. So far that has gone smoothly. So sometimes because of your facilities you have intervene but the less you do in general, the better. Mama knows best...usually.

I agree with Liz, with the three different broody and chicks I introduced, I had them in the coop in a wire cage, a big dog crate in fact. Like Liz said, this allows them time for the others to see them but to also be separate. When the broody mama started to pace around a lot I knew it was time to let her out into the coop with her chicks. I have 2 roos and 9 other hens and I have never had a chick even come close to being hurt by the others. My Jersey Giant broody would chase anyone that got near her babies and even the big Americana Roo was scared of the broody. The Roo wasn't even interested in the new chicks. Let mama do her thing and stand back and be amazed!

That is the way it worked for me anyway.
Good luck and God Bless
Marie

Hi Carrie,
I think every situation is different, but integration went pretty well in my coop. I just removed a barrier I had placed between the nest and the rest of the coop and they integrated on their own, with some pretty mild pecking from the currently poorly-named Grace. I was told that most broodies will have no trouble protecting their chicks from the other hens. When I tried to set them up in their own crate inside the coop, mom led them right back to the old nest.
I would think that in your situation, the cold is your biggest enemy, so I wouldn't take mom away from her babies now, and she wouldn't want to be separated either. Even now, at 2 weeks, my broodies won't leave the coop when I let the other hens out for their ranging break. They look like they want to, and might even jump out for a second, but then think better of it and jump right back in.
Is there a way you can move their coop into the larger living area so that the other hens get used to them before complete integration, and so mom and the chicks know where home base is? Otherwise, as long as the brood have a little space and something to dustbathe in, they probably don't want to go outside until the chicks are a little older.

Thanks everyone! Everyday when I go in the garage she seems to wanna wander out but it is night when I am home so I am all set with trying to let them out in the freezing cold at night! I am not planning on taking their Mum away at all just wanted to know if I should let her out seperately to stretch her legs and wings for a bit She FREAKED when I put them in their new cage though. I put her in first then grabbed them after letting my girls hold them for a few... Mama weren't happy to say the least! Ok so fter reading all of Team Broody's input I think this weekend or next I may move them into the coop and try to find a small dog crate to keep them in to introduce them to the flock but protected at first. Here is my only concern, when they go in there if I let them out it is a raised 8x4 coop about 2 ft up with a the only way in or out is up a ramp... aren't they too young for that? How old should they be? My chicks are only 5 days and I swear no bigger then 2 golf balls... maybe. Here is their current home... no dust bathing station... maybe I should get one of those in there soon

 

[Florida]

I have raised two crops of biddies, both from a borrowed hen. The chicks were born in town with the non mother mother. When they were a few days old we crated them all up and brought them to my farm. My hubby made them a special coop, one where they had covered wood protection and screening. His though was that they would like to live in the cage. hmmmmm On the first day I opened the door and they all ran, jumped or flew out, joining some hens.

Have no fear if your mother hen is anything like Millie she will drive any other chicken away from her babies.

 

[16 paws]

Aw Teila,
I am so sorry to hear that about Britney. That must be very hard for you right now. I know the loss of any animal is heart breaking. With having these beautiful animals to care for there comes a time when we must let them go. It is the hardest thing in the world for me also. Just remember, she will be here for the time she was meant to be here. I believe that anyway. Tears come down my cheeks as I write this. I remember back to last summer when 2 rattlesnakes got into my dog run. They were hidden behind some landscape stones.I had 4 Yorke's at the time and they all ran down to the dog run and were barking at something. As my daughter and I were trying to get the dogs back so we could see what was there, the snakes struck my little Abby! It happened so fast, we didn't even see the snakes but we heard them. We were so dumb, we thought the sound was from my neighbors sprinklers. We rushed her to the nearest vet, they treated her for shock and they sent us to our vet that had the anti-venom. They gave her that and then sent us to a emergency hospital. They gave her another anti-venom and thought she was going to make it. About 3 in the morning the hospital called me to say her heart stopped. We tried but we could not save her. I don't know why these things happen but I do trust in the Lord that He knows.
I never say good by to my babies I have lost because they are always with me. Britney will be with you also, Love never fails.
Give her a kiss for me will you?

Blessings
Marie

 

[lizgarf]

Aw Teila,
What 16paws said! I know Britney has had a wonderful life with you and won the Queensland chicken lottery when you brought her home!
I still miss Stella, and get so mad that I had to loose her so soon. But then again, she came to me after she had been dumped in a college student's backyard at a party - her life definitely looked up when my friends rescued her, and then she came to me. These ladies had too short lives, but they are so much longer and better than their very sad counterparts in the factory farms.
Anyway, enjoy the little babies and take some comfort in knowing that Team Broody appreciates all the love you give to your brood and us, as well.
--Liz

 

[tommysgirl]

G'Day Team Broody!

Not a very happy bit of news today .. Britney is losing the fight; I will be surprised if she makes it through the night; I'm already blubbering at the thought of losing my little wrecking-ball! It turns out she is internal laying for which there is no cure

I know what I should do but I just can't do it; no way!

Anyway, I know she had a fun filled time with me and I am really going to try and not make her memory a sad one.

So, in answer to Carrie's question; I agree totally with Liz, 16Paws and TG! For the first couple of weeks Cilla could easily have gone on a free range and left her bubbies but she didn't; she stayed with them the whole time. Now they have worked out how to get down the ramp and after much coaching from Cilla and me over many nights, back up again!
At the bottom of the ramp is a nice scratching and dust-bathing spot so they don't need to go far from their 'ranch'. I do not let them out unless I am home to supervise any possible aerial attacks from Mr Crow; mind you, the rate they are growing, he would be hard pressed to take one!
Dusty has started to show some interest when they are all out together but as the girls have said, Cilla is doing a good job of letting her know to 'step away from the babies'!

With regards taking mumma away and the cold; I probably wouldn't go down that path. Even at nearly 3 weeks old Cilla's bubbies still cuddle up under her every night and we don't have anywhere near the low temperatures you are experiencing; we are in our spring and the nights are humid. As TG mentioned, mumma knows best and I am letting Cilla lead me as to any decisions I make. At present, they get probably 1.5 hours in the afternoon each day when they are out and about.

Dusty is probably going to be on her own soon so I am thinking that this weekend will be the time to move the 'ranch' and incorporate it into the existing covered run which means all day scratching and dust-bathing and the bonus of added company for Dusty. As Liz mentioned, we have also had some minor pecking when one of the bubbies strays too close to Dusty but nothing that I am too worried about.

Luv the pictures Liz .. your cat and dog are gorgeous!

what everyone else said...I am sorry that your girl is fading. That is the tough thing about chickens, darn short life span...sometime too short!

 

[Teila]

She's gone

Britney ... Rest In Peace my little wrecking ball. I'm going to miss you so much and I will never forget you xoxo

Thank you Team Broody . your friendship and support means a lot!

 

[lizgarf]

So, sorry, Teila. What a pretty girl she was.

 

[Florida]

I love my chickens, something I didn't expect to do in just a short time. So I can imagine how you feel and I feel badly for you.

 

[16 paws]

Hello Teila,
It is so hard to know what to say at a time like this ....
My heart aches for you.
She is beautiful!
Very sorry
Marie

 

[Teila]

G'Day Team Broody

Thank you all so much for your kind words and thoughts; it has been a sad day and Dusty looking for Britney was not easy to watch; lots of extra attention for Dusty and special treats when I got home. Tonight she is on the roost by herself but with my plans outlined below; tomorrow should be a better day for her and I am at home so she can spend some time with me, helping! 'Whatya doing Mum?' lol

Florida, they do have a wonderful knack of worming they way into our hearts pretty quickly and as sad as today was, my little family still managed to get a smile out of me with their antics!

I did briefly think about getting Dusty a new pal but she can sometimes not be the most sociable little lady and trying to integrate Dusty, Cilla & Bubbies with a new girl would probably not be a good idea at this time!

I let everybody out in the garden together again today and naturally, being alone all day, Dusty gravitated towards Cilla and the bubbies; there was some pecking (not too serious) and Cilla was doing the 'step away from the babies' routine but nowhere near as often and she certainly let Dusty get closer

The little guys are getting more adventurous and Cilla is taking them further from the ranch (uncovered garden with lots of perils). All of the recent events combined have bought forward the integration plans and tomorrow the ranch is going to be moved to the other end of the covered run, so existing chateau at one end and ranch at the other with the ability to separate them off if need be. This will mean Dusty can still come out for a free range but the little guys and Cilla can range safely in the run under cover. Dusty will still have her favourite nest box in the chateau but also the opportunity to mingle with everyone else. Feeding time, being the riskiest for fights, will also be able to be separated. Hopefully this will work out for all concerned and definitely means more outside play time for bubbies in a less dangerous environment.

I will take some before and after pictures to share

Sorry for the lengthy novel again; Besides Team Broody (and hubby), I really do not have anyone who understands my love of my girls and tolerates/understands me sharing!

I do have one question .. with the integration and the opportunity, on occasion, for bubbies to get to Dusty's lay mash, is this going to be a problem? Do you think they will try and eat it? I have read that they are not supposed to? (They are 3 weeks old tomorrow) I sort of have a contingency plan if that is the case.

Thanks again Team Broody .. you really do Rock!!