RedCoopOnWheels
In the Brooder
Our Showgirl went broody on a lot of eggs. Two had problems hatching and died. The mess attracted other hens, and they pecked at the eggs. So we moved the eggs to an incubator. The Showgirl stayed broody then tried to steal another hen's chick. That night a chick hatched and we gave it to her. She was so happy! The next day another chick hatched and she accepted that one too. (They both are naked necks too).
Then last night another egg hatched at midnight. I rushed it out to her and put it under her. This morning the chick was fine, but Showgirl was hungry and was not sitting on the nest, so the little chicks have been following her around outside. She seemed to get irritated by the newest chick (not a naked-neck) and pecked at it. She drew blood by the eye and kept tipping it over.
We removed the chick and put it under a heat lamp with a stuffed animal.
Now I don't know what to do. I don't want to raise the chick by itself (for socialization reasons). I can't seem to find any other day-old chicks for sale anywhere. We do have some more eggs in the incubator -- but no idea if or when they will hatch.
Should I try putting her back under her mama at night again? Or are we stuck keeping her separated?
Then last night another egg hatched at midnight. I rushed it out to her and put it under her. This morning the chick was fine, but Showgirl was hungry and was not sitting on the nest, so the little chicks have been following her around outside. She seemed to get irritated by the newest chick (not a naked-neck) and pecked at it. She drew blood by the eye and kept tipping it over.
We removed the chick and put it under a heat lamp with a stuffed animal.
Now I don't know what to do. I don't want to raise the chick by itself (for socialization reasons). I can't seem to find any other day-old chicks for sale anywhere. We do have some more eggs in the incubator -- but no idea if or when they will hatch.
Should I try putting her back under her mama at night again? Or are we stuck keeping her separated?