HELP! Broody with newly hatched chick questions!

[junior67]

Ok new problem!!!! Broody hen went out around 6 as she has been the past few days. Baby didn't follow but stayed in the box. She came back and went in the wrong box. I woke up soon after. I went out and got baby and put it next to her and she just looked at it but didn't pick it but it was peeping away but not trying to squeeze under her. I started to go to move it and it finally slid under her. The chick was cheeping away. Oh this is the one that hatched under her.

Is this normal for the first day? I can try to figure out a way to block off the other section under my poop boards next to my coop brooder and lock her in but don't think I will have time this morning. I may be able to borrow a crate but again no time this morning.

Do I leave the baby with her until I can figure something out this afternoon or take the baby and put it in the incubator for the day?

 

[SilverBirds]

Ok new problem!!!! Broody hen went out around 6 as she has been the past few days. Baby didn't follow but stayed in the box. She came back and went in the wrong box. I woke up soon after. I went out and got baby and put it next to her and she just looked at it but didn't pick it but it was peeping away but not trying to squeeze under her. I started to go to move it and it finally slid under her. The chick was cheeping away. Oh this is the one that hatched under her.

Is this normal for the first day? I can try to figure out a way to block off the other section under my poop boards next to my coop brooder and lock her in but don't think I will have time this morning. I may be able to borrow a crate but again no time this morning.

Do I leave the baby with her until I can figure something out this afternoon or take the baby and put it in the incubator for the day?

When baby chicks are first born they haven't quite found their legs and it's difficult for them to walk. If they are still in the high nest, the chicks will have a really hard time using the ramp at this age.

 

[junior67]

When baby chicks are first born they haven't quite found their legs and it's difficult for them to walk. If they are still in the high nest, the chicks will have a really hard time using the ramp at this age.

The nest is at ground level. There is a board in front of it and it dawned on me earlier that the shavings are compacted down so not level with the board. I will add savings after work to build it up. What about her not going back to it?

 

[junior67]

So I got home and gave the mama the other baby. She was fine with it. Then I got a bin I bought set up so chicks weren't trapped in the nest and couldn't follow mama. I moved them all to the bin. Still open to the coop and run. She settled for a few then got up and went outside and left her babies in. They were wandering around. I had put some food out so they were eating that. Then they started peeping loud and she didn't come back in. I finally lured her back in. The babies went to her but she didn't settle down over them. I blocked the door just so the others couldn't come in and I could watch them. Well she started throwing a fit bawking. She was good with the babies though. I finally unblocked the door and she kept looking in the nest box so I put the babies in and she gently climbed in and settled down. The one that hatched under her came out and she pecked it some, not hard but it kept backing away. Then it finally walked up to her and was pulling on her wattles and she was fine with it. After a bit and some figuring out how it finally climbed under her...

I think I have a way to block her in a small section of the coop with the bin but worried there are small enough spaces for the babies to fit in. And I can't cover the top of it. Do I leave her in the nest box and build up inside and in front of it with shavings so babies can get in and out too? There is a lip even though it is ground level and the babies can't get over it . Or try to switch her to the bin after dark and leave it open?

She seems to be good with them but is it normal for moms to leave them at under 24 hrs old to go eat, drink and dust bathe?

Not sure how to proceed. I will post some pics of my coop and a screenshot from my camera that shows her in nest box, the far left when looking at the pic. And also the area I have blocked in case that is best. The white baby gate in the corner. Under the poop boards is my brooder with 3-4 week old chicks

 

[SilverBirds]

So I got home and gave the mama the other baby. She was fine with it. Then I got a bin I bought set up so chicks weren't trapped in the nest and couldn't follow mama. I moved them all to the bin. Still open to the coop and run. She settled for a few then got up and went outside and left her babies in. They were wandering around. I had put some food out so they were eating that. Then they started peeping loud and she didn't come back in. I finally lured her back in. The babies went to her but she didn't settle down over them. I blocked the door just so the others couldn't come in and I could watch them. Well she started throwing a fit bawking. She was good with the babies though. I finally unblocked the door and she kept looking in the nest box so I put the babies in and she gently climbed in and settled down. The one that hatched under her came out and she pecked it some, not hard but it kept backing away. Then it finally walked up to her and was pulling on her wattles and she was fine with it. After a bit and some figuring out how it finally climbed under her...

I think I have a way to block her in a small section of the coop with the bin but worried there are small enough spaces for the babies to fit in. And I can't cover the top of it. Do I leave her in the nest box and build up inside and in front of it with shavings so babies can get in and out too? There is a lip even though it is ground level and the babies can't get over it . Or try to switch her to the bin after dark and leave it open?

She seems to be good with them but is it normal for moms to leave them at under 24 hrs old to go eat, drink and dust bathe?

Not sure how to proceed. I will post some pics of my coop and a screenshot from my camera that shows her in nest box, the far left when looking at the pic. And also the area I have blocked in case that is best. The white baby gate in the corner. Under the poop boards is my brooder with 3-4 week old chicks

She'll figure it out. If blocking her off is more comfortable for the both of you, do it. Normally, she will take them out and teach them to dust bathe but until the babies are about a 3-5 days old they'll have a hard time keeping pace with mama.

 

[junior67]

She'll figure it out. If blocking her off is more comfortable for the both of you, do it. Normally, she will take them out and teach them to dust bathe but until the babies are about a 3-5 days old they'll have a hard time keeping pace with mama.

She seemed very stressed when I blocked the door today so thinking blocking her off would stress her more. But I want to be sure what she is doing is normal and won't harm the babies. I wasn't expecting her to go out till they were older. They are fine with no water till later tomorrow afternoon right? I did put a nipple waterer in the coop for them but it is outside the nest so they can't get to it yet. And all mine drink from nipples and have since the day I got them. It is a vertical one and mama can teach them.

If they should have water before I get home from work I can try to build up the savings in and around the nest with shavings in the coop.

 

[SilverBirds]

She seemed very stressed when I blocked the door today so thinking blocking her off would stress her more. But I want to be sure what she is doing is normal and won't harm the babies. I wasn't expecting her to go out till they were older. They are fine with no water till later tomorrow afternoon right? I did put a nipple waterer in the coop for them but it is outside the nest so they can't get to it yet. And all mine drink from nipples and have since the day I got them. It is a vertical one and mama can teach them.

If they should have water before I get home from work I can try to build up the savings in and around the nest with shavings in the coop.

Depends on how hot it is. They can go without water for and food for about two days but they should still drink some earlier if they can. Make sure the nipples are low enough for them and that they are actually drinking.

 

[junior67]

She went out again today and babies didn't follow. But they figured out how to jump out of the nest and run around the coop. Itzy came in, my roo, when mama was still outside. He pecked the babies a couple times but not hard. Mama came back in a bit later. I recorded this part when watching the video back from my camera. Looks like it is going well to me

 

[HumbleAmerican]

My broodies would have been all over him after the second or third peck. lol

The chicks will learn to give the others a wide berth. Appears he wasn't aggressive.

Do you have food and water in the coop? If so, they probably aren't hungry enough to follow momma out for food/water and their little world is comparatively safe compared to outside. My broodies take them off the nest about 24 hours after hatch, then spend a day in the coop. All with no food/water. The next day everyone is hungry enough to follow momma anywhere.

The only time I break this is if I give them already hatched (2-3 day old) chicks. I then give no food.... but water once a day. Twice if its hot out.

 

[junior67]

My broodies would have been all over him after the second or third peck. lol

The chicks will learn to give the others a wide berth. Appears he wasn't aggressive.

Do you have food and water in the coop? If so, they probably aren't hungry enough to follow momma out for food/water and their little world is comparatively safe compared to outside. My broodies take them off the nest about 24 hours after hatch, then spend a day in the coop. All with no food/water. The next day everyone is hungry enough to follow momma anywhere.

The only time I break this is if I give them already hatched (2-3 day old) chicks. I then give no food.... but water once a day. Twice if its hot out.

Last night was 24 hrs after hatch. I did put some food and water in the coop for the first night and today. I can take it out tomorrow if I should. I am new to this so learning. I also have a ramp going outside.

I was worried she didn't do much to him when he was pecking, but thankful it didn't seem aggressive.